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

March 12, 2013
Work/Businesses

“When you go to Midas, you get a muffler” (go to a specialist for that specialty)

Midas (The Muffler Installation Dealers' Associated Service) is an automotive service center that specializes in mufflers (and was originally called "Midas Muffler"), but now also…

May 6, 2019
Work/Businesses

“When you have hit rock bottom and survived, there are very few things that can scare you”

"When you have hit rock bottom (before) and survived, there are very few things in life that can scare you" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is…

April 30, 2022
Work/Businesses

“When you haven’t even gone to sleep yet and you already can’t wait to get home from work tomorrow”

"I haven't even gone to bed yet and I already can't wait to get home from work tomorrow" is a work saying that has been printed on many images. "haven't even been to…

December 27, 2025
Work/Businesses

“When you late for work so you walk in fast & act fake mad”

If you're late for work, don't walk in with a smile on your face. Look angry or mad, as if the traffic, or a delayed bus or train, or something else held you back from that wonderful work…

June 15, 2019
Work/Businesses

“When you learn how much you’re worth, you’ll stop giving people discounts”

"When you learn how much you're worth, you'll stop giving people discounts" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "Once you realize your true…

October 24, 2015
Work/Businesses

“When you need something to believe in, start with yourself”

"When you need something to believe in, start with yourself" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been cited on Twitter since October 15, 2009.…

December 24, 2014
Work/Businesses

“When you promote a good engineer to manager, you may get a bad manager and lose a good engineer”

"When you promote a good engineer to manager, you may get a bad manager and lose a good engineer" is a popular saying of unknown authorship. "One loses a good contributor and gets a…

July 11, 2015
Work/Businesses

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on”

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since April 3, 1919, when this…

November 14, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“When you realize that the two most profitable businesses are war and illness, it’s easy to understand what’s going on”

"When you realize that the two most profitable businesses are war and illness, it’s easy to understand what’s going on" is a saying that has been pinted on many images.…

October 22, 2013
Work/Businesses

“When you retire, you switch bosses—from the one who hired you to the one who married you”

"When you retire, you switch bosses -- from the one who hired you to the one who married you" has been credited to television comedy writer Gene Perret. The quotation has been cited in…

February 1, 2024
Work/Businesses

“When you said ‘friends with benefits,’ I assumed you owned a bookstore”

"When you said 'friends with benefits,' I assumed you owned a liquor store" -- or taco truck, or coffee shop -- is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images.…

September 16, 2025
Work/Businesses

“When you see the overly happy new employee smiling at work. ‘We don’t do that here’”

A popular work meme has the text, "When you see the overly happy new employee actually enjoying their day at work..." Someone is shown stopping the employee and says, "We don't…

April 20, 2018
Work/Businesses

“When you shop at a record store, you should know that all sales are vinyl”

Many stores (especially stores that sell used merchandise) have a no-return policy, "all sales are final." A joke is that a used records store has a sign that says, "all sales are…

September 15, 2024
Work/Businesses

“When you thought everything would be easy peasy lemon squeezy, but it’s actually difficult difficult lemon difficult”

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy” is a way of saying that something is easy. "Difficult difficult lemon difficult" (or "When you thought everything would be easy peasy lemon squeezy,…

September 14, 2024
Work/Businesses

“When you thought something would be easy peasy lemon squeezy, but it’s actually been stressy, depressy lemon zesty”

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy” is a way of saying that something is easy. "Difficult difficult lemon difficult" (or "When you thought everything would be easy peasy lemon squeezy,…

January 21, 2013
Work/Businesses

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, you’ll be successful”

"When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, you'll be successful" is a saying that has appeared on many posters and has been popularzed by Eric Thomas, author of The…

April 2, 2020
Work/Businesses

“When you work from home, all work is homework”

Many people are schooled at home. "Since I am home schooled all my work is homework" was posted on Twitter on February 12, 2009. "Being home schooled all work is homework. *lame…

March 5, 2017
Work/Businesses

“When you’re out of quality, you’re out of business”

"When you're out of quality, you're out of business" is a business saying of unknown authorship. A Georgia business leader called it an "old saying" in 1985. The…

March 16, 2021
Work/Businesses

“When you’re ready for the weekend, but it’s only Tuesday”

Entry in progress -- BP TwitterAakar Shroff@aakarI'm ready for the weekend, but it's only Tuesday7:35 AM · Mar 10, 2009·Twitter Web Client TwitterMarianne Stanley@Marianne70ready for…

December 27, 2025
Work/Businesses

“When you’re late for work, just walk in fast and fake mad. ‘Whatta fucking morning’”

If you're late for work, don't walk in with a smile on your face. Look angry or mad, as if the traffic, or a delayed bus or train, or something else held you back from that wonderful work…

First
Previous
166 167 168 169 170
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.