The Big Apple
About Archives Categories Index Search
About Archives Categories Index Search

November 17, 2008
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“He who sells what isn’t his’n, must buy it back or go to prison”

A classic little saying about short selling on Wall Street is: "He who sells what isn't his'n, must buy it back or go to prison." The origin of the saying is unknown, but by…

July 21, 2015
Work/Businesses

“He who speaks first loses” (negotiating adage)

"He/She who speaks first loses" is an axiom of business negotiation. Don't be the first one at the bargaining table to mention price because, this theory goes, the person who speaks…

March 6, 2014
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“He who tampers with the currency robs labor of its bread”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Daniel WebsterDaniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was a leading American senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil…

November 23, 2016
Holidays/Events/Parades

“He who thanks with lips thanks but in part; the full, the true Thanksgiving comes from the heart”

A Thanksgiving rhyme has been printed on many images: "He who thanks but with the lipsThanks but in part;The full, the true Thanksgiving Comes from the heart." The short poem is from…

July 29, 2012
Work/Businesses

“He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman…”

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist" is a saying that…

July 10, 2016
Sports/Games

“He’s 20. In 10 years, he’ll have a chance to be 30” (a bad young player)

Casey Stengel (1945-2011) was departing as baseball manager of the New York Mets, and spoke in April 1966 of a young player he liked (first baseman Ed Kranepool) and one he didn't like…

September 26, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“He’s a master debater” (joke on “masturbator”)

"Master debater" is often said with a wink, clearly hinting at the word "masturbator." It's not known exactly when the double entendre began. The Los Angeles (CA) Times…

December 12, 2020
Food/Drink

“He’s making a list, chicken and rice…”

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1934) is a popular Christmas song, but not everyone knows the lyrics. "He's making a list and checking it twice" is sometimes given…

January 5, 2015
Sports/Games

“He’s smoking at a gas station because he’s about to blow up!”

"He's smoking at a gas station because he's about to blow up!" was a catchphrase of Stuart Scott (1965-2015) on ESPN's SportsCenter. The saying means that a player is about…

December 5, 2015
Education/Schools

“He’s so dumb, he stayed up all night studying for a urine test”

It's an old joke that a person is so dumb, "he/she stayed up all night studying for a urine test." The joke has been cited in print since at least 1968, when it was a Polish joke.…

May 19, 2017
Food/Drink

“He’s so old that when he orders a three-minute egg, they ask for the money up front”

"He's so old that when he orders a three-minute egg, they ask for the money up front" was said by American comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998) about New York-born comedian and actor…

December 22, 2024
Holidays/Events/ParadesWork/Businesses

“He’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. He left it at home. He’s texting his wife”

The Christmas song "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1934) contains the lyrics: "He's making a list And checking it twice; He's gonna find out who's naughty and…

June 22, 2013
Food/Drink

“He/She makes coffee nervous” (a very energetic and nervous person)

Coffee has the well known effect of making people nervous, but an old joke reverses the process. "Ralph Font: 'I know a night club owner (Dario) who's so fidgety he makes coffee…

July 9, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Head in the oven, feet in the freezer” (statistician joke on “averaging”)

A popular joke about the statistical "average" involves the statistician who put his head in an oven and his feet in a freezer, saying, "On average, I feel fine." The joke…

February 22, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Head of lettuce. That must be a boring job”

People often seek a job of the "head" of something. There's a joke: "Head of lettuce. That must be a boring job." The joke was posted on Twitter on June 2, 2012.…

February 22, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Head of lettuce. That must be a boring job”

People often seek a job of the "head" of something. There's a joke: "Head of lettuce. That must be a boring job." The joke was posted on Twitter on June 2, 2012.…

January 15, 2020
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Head, shoulders, knees and toes” (exercise song)

"Head(s), shoulders, knees and toes" is an exercise song that is common in primary schools. Children touch the parts of their bodies that are mentioned in the song. "Eyes and ears…

February 26, 2025
Work/Businesses

“Heading into Costco, see you in $1200”

People buy in bulk and spend a lot of money at Costco stores. "Heading into Costco, see you in $500" was posted on X/Twitter by Midge on July 12, 2021. "Heading into Costco, see you…

November 21, 2022
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Headphones imply the existence of shoulderphones, kneephones, and toephones”

There are headphones, but other body parts do not have phones. "shoulderphones!!" was posted on Twitter by Gray on May 24, 2011. "I need new headphones shoulderphones kneephones…

January 3, 2024
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Headphones on. World off”

"Headphones on. World off" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been divided by either a comma or a period. "Not the best of days... headphones on. world…

First
Previous
381 382 383 384 385
Next
Last

About the Website and Editor

BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

Read more About the Website and Editor
About
Privacy Policy
RSS

© 2026 Barry Popik. All rights reserved.