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April 25, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Our five senses are incomplete without the sixth—a sense of humor”

"Our five senses are incomplete without the sixth -- a sense of humor" is a saying that has been printed on many images. William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) wrote the saying, which appears in…

July 3, 2005
Work/Businesses

“Our food is fresh. Our customers are spoiled.” (FreshDirect)

FreshDirect delivers food right to your door. You wouldn't think that a company like that could make money in New York City - anyone remember Kosmo.com and Urbanfetch? Isn't there some…

January 24, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Our maintenance guy lost his legs on the job. Now he’s just a handyman”

A "handyman" usually has legs as well as hands, but this joke was posted on Twitter by PunTato on October 3, 2015: "Our maintenance guy lost his leg while he was on a job... now he`s…

June 14, 2013
Work/Businesses

“Our most important assets go home every night” (employee-intensive business slogan)

"Our most important assets go home every night" is what a labor-intensive company's executive might say. The saying has long been popular in Hollywood, where a studio's greatest…

October 11, 2014
Work/Businesses

“Our office just got a new conference table—it sleeps 16”

Workers often mentally fall asleep at some board meetings, prompting the joke: "Our office just got a new conference table. It sleeps 16." "Our office just bought a new conference…

November 20, 2012
Work/Businesses

“Out of my mind—back in five minutes” (office door sign)

"Out of my mind -- back in five minutes" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as posters, bumper stickers and T-shirts. It's a humorous variation of the…

June 6, 2021
Work/Businesses

“Outside is expensive. Lock us back up!” (after quarantine)

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in lockdowns/quarantines. When people went outside again, some were shocked at how expensive it was. "i havent been out in soooo long i forgot how…

July 6, 2005
Work/Businesses

“Over 18 Miles of Books” (Strand Book Store)

The Strand Book Store (the main location is Broadway and 12th Street) claims that it has "18 miles of books." It used to claim that it had "8 miles of books." That's a lot…

April 11, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Overslept this morning, was late getting to the living room”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic cancelled work for many people, and they stayed at home. "This morning I overslept and I was late to the living room. I gotta do better tomorrow" was…

February 17, 2016
Work/Businesses

“Owning a funeral home means you go back to work after you die”

"Owning a funeral home means you go back to work after you die" was cited on Reddit's Shower Thoughts on January 4. 2016. But do you really go back to work at the funeral home or do…

March 5, 2018
Work/Businesses

“P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude)—I’m positive, I’m mental and I know I have attitude!”

"I have P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude) -- I'm positive, I'm mental and I know I have attitude!" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "I have a positive…

June 25, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Pakistanis can’t play soccer well because every time they get a corner, they open a shop”

People from Pakistan and India (and other nationalities) have reputations for opening businesses, but not being very good at soccer. A riddle is: Q: Why doesn't Pakistan have an international…

January 20, 2023
Work/Businesses

“Paper or plastic?”/“Either. I’m bisacksual.”

A cashier often gives a customer a choice of bags and asks, “Paper or plastic?” A joke is: CASHIER: Paper or plastic?CUSTOMER: Either. I'm bisacksual/bisacktual. "When they ask…

December 26, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Paper or plastic?”/“Either. I’m bisacktual.”

A cashier often gives a customer a choice of bags and asks, “Paper or plastic?” A joke is: CASHIER: Paper or plastic?CUSTOMER: Either. I'm bisacksual/bisacktual. "When they ask…

July 7, 2018
Work/Businesses

“Paperclip: the staple for people with commitment issues”

"Paperclip: the staple for people with commitment issues" is a jocular saying about office supplies that has been printed on several images. "Just read that the paper clip . . . . is…

October 2, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Pass the buck” (avoid responsibility)

"Ante up and pass the buck" was a popular poker saying in the 1800s. The "buck" was a knife with a buckhorn handle, and it indicated whose turn it was to deal the cards.…

July 4, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off”

"Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off" was…

June 15, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off”

Entry in progress -- B.P. 20 June 2008, Townsville (Queensland) Bulletin, "Psyched Up" by Marie Bella, pg. 207:Borrowing the words from an unknown sage: "Patience is the ability to…

July 4, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off”

"Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off" was…

June 9, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Patience is what you have when there are too many witnesses”

"Patience is what you have when there are too many witnesses"is a jocular saying about patience -- not losing one's composure -- that has been printed on many images. The saying was…

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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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