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September 28, 2025
Work/Businesses

“You can’t get the Sunday scaries if you’re scared all week long”

Entry in progress -- BP X/Twitter mariana @pastapilled You can't get the Sunday scaries if you're scared all week long 4:53 PM · Apr 6, 2025 ·

September 23, 2012
Work/Businesses

“You can’t get to the top by sitting on your bottom”

"You can't get to the top by sitting on your bottom" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least 1954. The authorship of the saying is unknown. Google…

February 7, 2025
Work/Businesses

“You can’t have a bad day at work if you don’t go”

"You can't have a bad day at work if you don't go" is a work saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship of the saying is unknown. "You can't have a bad…

April 14, 2018
Work/Businesses

“You can’t have a million dollar dream with a minimum wage work ethic”

"You can't have a million dollar dream with a minimum wage work ethic" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "You can't have a million dollar dream with a…

June 27, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You can’t keep a good man down”

"You can't keep a good man down" is a popular saying that means a good person will persevere and triumph over adversity. The saying dates to the 1880s. "It's hard to keep a…

March 15, 2018
Work/Businesses

“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first”

"You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. That is, one must fill one's self up before…

March 21, 2019
Pets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)Work/Businesses

“You can’t ride two horses with one behind”

"You can't ride two horses at one time" is a popular proverb that dates to at least the 1800s. The expression slowly become more colorful. "We cannot ride two horses with one…

January 1, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb”

"You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb" is a slight misquotation of what American industrialist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) said in a speech at Union College…

March 15, 2021
Work/Businesses

“You could give them a job laying down and they’ll get up and quit”

"This generation don't want to work. You could give them a job laying down and they'll get up and quit" is a saying that has been printed on many images. There are several…

March 18, 2021
Work/Businesses

“You could give them a job sleeping and they’ll wake up and quit”

"This new generation does not like WORKING. You could give these MFs a job SLEEPING and they'll WAKE UP and QUIT" was printed in an image and posted on Facebook by Dino Shines on…

November 21, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You don’t drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there”

"You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in print since at least…

January 5, 2026
Work/Businesses

“You don’t get paid based on how hard you work. You get paid based on how hard you are to replace”

"You aren't paid according to how hard you work. You are paid according to how hard you are to replace" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Many people can work hard,…

January 5, 2026
Work/Businesses

“You don’t get paid by how hard you work. You get paid by how hard you are to replace”

"You aren't paid according to how hard you work. You are paid according to how hard you are to replace" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Many people can work hard,…

December 30, 2012
Work/Businesses

“You don’t get what you deserve—you get what you negotiate”

"You don't get what you deserve -- you get what you negotiate" has been popularized by author and lecturer Dr. Chester L. Karrass. The line does not appear in the first edition of…

January 3, 2023
Work/Businesses

“You don’t grow out of Legos, you just graduate to Ikea”

IKEA is a store that sells ready-to-assemble furniture. It's often been compared to children's LEGO plastic construction toys. "Start with LEGO, graduate to IKEA" was posted on…

May 30, 2012
Work/Businesses

“You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps”

"You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps" is a jocular sign that has been placed in many workplaces. "You don't have to be crazy to work here...but it…

June 29, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying is usually attributed to…

July 18, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You don’t have to get it right. You just have to get it going”

"You don't have to get it right. You just have to get it going" is a popular saying with many entrepreneurs. Almost nothing is perfect at the start, so that shouldn't prevent…

November 14, 2014
Work/Businesses

“You don’t have to stay up nights to succeed; you have to stay awake days”

"You don’t have to lay awake nights to be a success. Just stay awake days" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since 1948 and is of unknown authorship. "You don't…

October 31, 2015
Work/Businesses

“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over”

"You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over" is a motivational saying that has been printed on many images. English businessman and investor…

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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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