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July 2, 2019
Work/Businesses

“An idea is just a dream until you write it down, and then it’s a goal”

"An idea is a dream until you write it down, and then it's a goal" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "It's a dream until you write it down. Then it's a…

May 10, 2025
Buildings/Housing/ParksWork/Businesses

“An old timer once told me, ‘Make sure your work boots and your bed are comfortable because that’s all you’ll ever be in’”

"Make sure your work boots and your bed are comfortable because that’s all you’ll ever be in" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Get yourself a good pair of work…

May 24, 2019
Work/Businesses

“An optimist is a person who has no trouble seeing the bright side of your problems”

"An optimist is a person who has no trouble seeing the bright side of your problems" was printed in the Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette on June 25, 1983, by American humor columnist Doug…

July 10, 2015
Work/Businesses

“An optimist laughs to forget and an pessimist forgets to laugh”

"An optimist laughs to forget and a pessimist forgets to laugh" was cited in print in an American newspaper from July 1922. No author was credited. "The optimist laughs to forget,…

February 14, 2018
Work/Businesses

“An X-ray specialist married one of his patients. Everybody wondered what he saw in her”

A medical joke about an X-ray technician is: "Did you hear about the X-ray technician who married one of his patients? Everybody wondered what he saw in her." A form of the joke has been…

August 23, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Another fine day ruined by responsibility”

"Another fine day ruined by responsibility" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The speaker is craving days of irresponsibility -- perhaps a youthful time without…

November 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/InternetWork/Businesses

“Answering the phone ‘Sheriff’s Department, Fraud Division’ sure has slowed down the telemarketer calls”

Almost everyone hates getting a phone call from a telemarketer. "Answering the phone 'Sheriff's Department, Fraud Division' sure has slowed down the telemarketer calls" is…

August 18, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Any guy who plays heavy metal at work is office rocker”

"Off his rocker" (meaning a crazy person) sounds like "office rocker." "My boss traded in his desk chair for a recliner & became addicted to playing 'Guitar…

October 15, 2024
Food/DrinkMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/InternetWork/Businesses

“Any meeting without food should be an email”

"A meeting without food should be an email" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Any meeting without food should literally just be an email" was posted on…

October 15, 2024
Food/DrinkMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/InternetWork/Businesses

“Any meeting without food should be done online”

"A meeting without food should be an email" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Any meeting without food should literally just be an email" was posted on…

December 21, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Anybody know when Walmart is sending out W2s for self checkout?”

Some people who use the self-checkout at Walmart believe they should be paid (and get a W2 form, like employees). "If I’m the cashier at Walmart now on self check outs I want my W2s"…

August 9, 2024
Food/DrinkWork/Businesses

“Anyone on their way to work with a hot drink automatically look like they have their whole life sorted out”

Many people confidently come to work with a hot drink (usually coffee). This was posted on X/Twitter by Liyyah on November 18, 2021, and received almost 10,000 likes: "Anyone on their way to…

October 1, 2015
Work/Businesses

“Anyone who goes to see a psychiatrist should have his head examined”

Polish-American movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1879-1974) was known for his malapropisms, or "Goldwynisms." Syndicated Hollywood columnist reported in June 1948: "Stop me if…

April 10, 2023
Work/Businesses

“Anyone who plays heavy metal at work is office rocker”

"Off his rocker" (meaning a crazy person) sounds like "office rocker." "My boss traded in his desk chair for a recliner & became addicted to playing 'Guitar…

December 27, 2010
Work/Businesses

“Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop”

"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. "Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to…

December 11, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Anything recommended by a stoned person comes highly recommended”

"Anything recommended by a stoned person comes highly recommended" was posted on Reddit -- Showerthoughts on April 20, 2018. That is, the stoned person was "high" when he/she…

December 10, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Anything recommended by a stoned person is highly recommended”

"Anything recommended by a stoned person comes highly recommended" was posted on Reddit -- Showerthoughts on April 20, 2018. That is, the stoned person was "high" when he/she…

June 15, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Apparently ‘cheesecake & tacos’ wasn’t the answer when he asked me about my weaknesses”

Employment interviewers often ask a job applicant what his or her weaknesses are. A jocular line is: "Apparently 'cheesecake & tacos' wasn't the answer the interviewer was…

November 11, 2021
Work/Businesses

“Apparently ‘spite’ is not an appropriate answer to ‘What motivates you?’”

"What motivates you?" is a popular job interview question. "Apparently 'spite' is not an appropriate answer to 'What motivates you?'" is a jocular saying…

June 10, 2021
Work/Businesses

“Apparently ‘the vibes are off’ isn’t a good excuse to leave work early”

"Apparently 'the vibes are off' isn’t a good excuse to leave work early" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "I just have to leave work early today the…

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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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