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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…

January 27, 2026
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food StoresWork/Businesses

“When you’re at the checkout line and they ask if you found everything, say, ‘Why, are you hiding stuff?’”

When a customer reaches a store's checkout, the customer is often asked if they found everything they were looking for. If a customer didn't find something, the store usually provides…

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…

March 2, 2026
Food/DrinkWork/Businesses

“When your ‘bonus’ at work is a pizza party” (“Am I a joke to you?” worker meme)

Many managers see employees working hard and reward them with pizza. The employees, however, really want bonuses. A pizza meme was posted on Facebook by Drew Kamin on October 15, 2019. "When…

July 10, 2019
Work/Businesses

“When your girlfriend comes home in a white suit, smelling of honey…she’s a keeper”

"He's/She's a keeper" means that he/she is relationship and/or marriage material. Or, he/she could just be a beekeeper. "If he comes home wearing an enormous white suit and…

September 4, 2016
Work/Businesses

“When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt”

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt" is a popular work saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was printed in an April 11, 1947 Richmond (VA)…

January 8, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWork/Businesses

“Whenever I have to fill out a form that asks ‘who to call in case of an emergency,’ I always put ‘ambulance’...”

Many forms ask who to call in case of an emergency. "Employment application blanks always ask who is to be called in case of an emergency. I think you should write, 'An…

January 13, 2026
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food StoresWork/Businesses

“Whenever I see an iPad at a cash register, I know that I’m about to tip for something I never had to tip for before”

Many people go to a drive-thru at a place like Starbucks and are confronted with an iPad, and the question of what amount they want to tip. This was posted on X/Twitter by Bobby C on April 1, 2022,…

June 12, 2024
Work/Businesses

“Whenever there’s a fire drill at IKEA everyone has to assemble outside”

IKEA sells furniture that usually requires assembly. "Whenever there’s a fire drill at IKEA everyone has to assemble outside" was posted on X/Twitter by Moose Allain Ꙭ on November 7,…

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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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