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September 7, 2019
Work/Businesses

“It isn’t what happens to you, but how you react to it, that determines your life”

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it" (or "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it") is a saying that has been printed on many images.…

May 24, 2017
Work/Businesses

“It might look like I’m doing nothing, but at the cellular level I’m quite busy”

"It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm quite busy" is jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many images. "It might look like…

September 28, 2016
Work/Businesses

“It only takes two to make an auction” (auction adage)

It takes two to tango, and it is said that it takes two to make an auction. It's not known where the auction saying began. "It takes two bids to make an auction sale" was cited in a…

May 11, 2012
Work/Businesses

“It pays to advertise” (advertising adage)

"It pays to advertise" is a saying that appeared in many 19th century newspapers, often ending "in/with the (newspaper name)." The slogan was developed because many businesses…

March 29, 2022
Work/Businesses

“It really smells around that ol’ factory”

"Olfactory" sounds like "ol' factory" or "ole factory" (old factory), and there are jokes. "Ole-Factory: A factory that manufactures perfumes, or a factory…

November 7, 2014
Work/Businesses

“It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something”

A general rule states that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert an anything. The "10,000-hour rule" was developed from a 1973 paper in American Scientist by Herbert Simon and William…

March 2, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“It takes an extraordinary level of naïveté to believe that a small group of billionaires is tirelessly working to protect the interests of the working class”

"YOU ELECTED A BILLIONAIRE THAT IS APPOINTING OTHER BILLIONAIRES TO FIX THE SYSTEM THAT MADE THEM BILLIONAIRES? YOU'RE A SPECIAL KIND OF STUPID AREN'T YOU?" (shown on an image)…

September 29, 2014
Work/Businesses

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan”

"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan" is a one-line saying that has been cited in print since at least 1956. It's not known who originated the saying. Eleanor…

July 20, 2012
Work/Businesses

“It takes nine months to make a baby, no matter how many people you put on the job”

"It takes nine months to make a baby, no matter how many people you put on the job" is a popular American business proverb. For some businesses, such as apple-picking in an orchard,…

October 17, 2013
Work/Businesses

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark” (planning proverb)

"It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark" is a proverbial saying that means that one should plan ahead. "It Wasn't Raining When Noah Commenced the Ark" was cited in…

November 29, 2019
Work/Businesses

“It’ll be greater later” (motivational saying)

"It gets greater later" (or "It'll get greater later") is a motivational saying that has been printed on several images. Authorship is unknown. "Things will get…

November 29, 2019
Work/Businesses

“It’ll get greater later” (motivational saying)

"It gets greater later" (or "It'll get greater later") is a motivational saying that has been printed on several images. Authorship is unknown. "Things will get…

December 23, 2012
Work/Businesses

“It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it”

"It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it" (or, "it's dirty work, but someone's gotta do it") is a popular cliché said about difficult jobs. In 1955,…

October 30, 2015
Work/Businesses

“It’s a job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish”

English writer J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) wrote in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of The Lord of the Rings (spoken by Sam to Frodo): "It's the job that's never started…

April 5, 2019
Work/Businesses

“It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to paint it”

“It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. American stand-up comedian Steven Wright has used the line since at…

February 16, 2024
Work/Businesses

“It’s actually bad luck to say MacBook inside an office. You have to call it ‘The Scottish Laptop’”

"It's actually bad luck to say MacBook inside an office. You have to call it 'The Scottish Laptop'" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. William…

August 20, 2026
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/InternetWork/Businesses

“It’s actually pronounced ‘jaslight,’ and you’ve been saying it wrong this whole time”

"Gif" is pronounced like "jif." A joke about this also uses the term "gaslighting." "Actually it's pronounced jaslight. You've been saying it wrong this…

March 17, 2019
Work/Businesses

“It’s amazing how fast later comes when you buy now!”

"Buy now -- pay later" is a popular sales tactic. "It's amazing how fast later comes when you buy now!" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Origin of the…

December 14, 2025
Work/Businesses

“It’s been six years since my job interview. I’m beginning to suspect they chose someone else”

Many people go on a job interview, and then never hear anything back. "It’s been 4 years since my job interview. I’m beginning to suspect they chose someone else" is a joke that has…

December 2, 2022
Work/Businesses

“It’s beginning to cost a lot like Christmas”

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (1951) is a Christmas song written by Meredith Wilson (1902-1984). "It's beginning to cost a lot like Christmas" (about…

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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.

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