Hudson River Ale (water)
"Hudson River ale" is a jocular slang term that was used in some New York City restaurants for "water." The seldom-used term was cited in print in 1936 and is of historical…
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Massive Bank Account (“MBA” backronym)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree often comes with a higher salary than just a bachelor's. The MBA is sometimes given the jocular backronym (back acronym) of "Massive…
“I love when my boss catches me doing work”
Employees often live in fear of when a boss catches them not doing work. "I love when my boss catches me doing work" is a jocular saying of the opposite situation. "Gotta love when…
George Eddy (customer who doesn’t leave a tip)
Entry in progress -- B.P. JSTORFebruary 1936, American Speech, "Linguistic Concoctions of the Soda Jerker" by Harold W. Bentley, pp. 37-45:GEORGE EDDY. Man who gives no tips. Google…
Hoboken Special (pineapple soda and chocolate ice cream)
A "Hoboken Special" is old restaurant slang for an order of pineapple soda and chocolate ice cream. Columbia University's Harold W. Bentley first recorded the term in…
Mother-in-Law Sandwich (tongue on rye; cold shoulder and lots of tongue)
A "mother-in-law sandwich" -- yet another mother-in-law joke -- usually contains the jocular ingredients of "tongue on rye" or "cold shoulder and tongue.' The sandwich…
“What do you think of the musician’s execution?”/“I’m in favor of it.”
A popular joke appeared in 1894 and was reprinted in many newspapers: "What did you think of my daughter's execution, Professor?" asked the fond mamma, as her fair daughter pounded…
“There’s always room at the top”
Entry in progress -- B.P. [This entry was assisted by research from Stephen Goranson of the American Dialect Society listserv and from the Quote Investigator.] Wikipedia: Daniel WebsterDaniel…
“How do I like my eggs? Umm, in a cake”
"How do I like my eggs? Umm, in a cake?" is a jocular line that has been printed on posters and coffee mugs. "I like my eggs...in a cake" was cited on Twitter on April 21, 2010.…
“Toot and scramble” (tout ensemble)
"Toot and scramble" is a jocular Americanism for the French "tout ensemble" (all together). "Toot on scramble" was cited in 1853 and "toot and scramble" was…
“Peaches and gravy” (peaches and cream + gravy)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Sports IllustratedOriginally Posted: September 27, 2004They Said ItThink of the people quoted here as the spiritual descendants of Yogi Berra, imparting precious pearls of…
“My favorite seafood is saltwater taffy”
Caldwell Jones played center for basketball's Philadelphia 76ers when a local sportswriter asked him what was his favorite seafood. "Salt water taffy," Jones responded. The joke was…
Nervous Pudding (jello)
"Nervous pudding" has been a popular nickname for Jell-O because it shakes when it's handed off from the server. "'Don't get upset, Marge, calm your nerves with some…
“Heart attack on a rack” (biscuits and gravy)
"Heart attack on a bun” (a nickname for biscuits and gravy) is a dish loaded with potentially artery-clogging food. "Heart attack on a rack: biscuits and gravy" was printed in The…
Burn the British (toasted English muffin)
"Burn the British!" is old restaurant slang for an order of a toasted English muffin. The slang was recorded in New York Panorama: A Comprehensive View of the Metropolis, Presented in a…
Bronx Crepes Suzette (blintzes)
"Bronx crepes suzette" is a jocular name for "blintzes." Blintzes were popular with Jewish families in the Bronx -- and many Jewish families lived in the Bronx in the 1930s and…
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to slaughter”
"If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter" is a George Washington (1732-1799) quotation that became frequently used in the…
Frog Sticks (french fries)
Entry in progress. -- B.P. 30 November 1988, St. Albans (VT) Messenger Shopping News, "Burn one and take it through the garden," pg. 20, col. 1:"Wax a wimpy with frog sticks,"…
“Buy the book before you buy the coin” (coin collecting adage)
"Buy the book before you buy the coin" is a coin collecting adage. There are many coin collecting books that provide prices and other information. The saying is similar to Wall…
“You can’t fire the owner” (sports adage)
"You can't fire the owner" is an old sports adage. The coach can get fired, the players can get traded or released, but the owner runs the show. "You can't fire the…