Balance Sheet Recession
A "balance sheet recession" is the slowing of business activity after the bursting of an asset bubble (or bubbles). Economist A. Gary Shilling said in December 1990, "This is a…
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Impeach-mint (political flavor)
"Impeachmint" (also "impeach-mint" or "impeach mint") is a political flavor pun on the word "impeachment." The term was popularized by at least 1973, with…
“When thunder roars, go indoors”
"You see, whenever thunder roars, most everybody runs indoors" was cited in print in 1933 and has been long-known advice, on Tornado Alley and elsewhere. The U.S. National Weather Service…
Silicon Forest
Oregon has a "Silicon Forest" of high-tech companies located near Portland, between Beaverton and Hillsboro. Lattice Semiconductor Corporation trademarked "Silicon Forest" with…
“If you must burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it first”
"If you must burn our flag, please wrap yourself in it first" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers and posters. The saying was a response to the…
“God made police so firefighters would have heroes”
"God made police/cops so firefighters would have heroes" is a saying that has been printed on a popular T-shirt. The saying has been cited in print since at least 2005. The T-shirt is…
“Meet cute” (romantic comedy rule)
The loving couple --usually a boy and a girl -- in a romantic comedy must "meet cute." That is, when they meet each other for the first time, the situation must be "cute" --…
“Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl” (drama plot)
Boy Meets Girl is a play by Bella Spewak (1899-1990) and Samuel Spewak (1899-1971) that opened on Broadway on November 27, 1935. One character said: "BENSON. (indignantly) You couldn't…
“1984 is not an instruction manual”
"1984 is not an instruction manual" has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and buttons. The saying became popular with the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and…
Not Safe For Work (NSFW)
Many workers look at many websites while at work. "NSFW" ("Not Safe For Work" or "Not Suitable For Work") is a warning that material will be on the screen that might…
“Are we there yet?”
"Are we there yet?": is a question that children, sitting in the back seat, ask to parents in the front seat during a family car trip. The question was popularized in an "Uncle…
“Potatoes will cry their eyes out” (if next to onions)
An old gardening joke has it that one shouldn't plant onions next to potatoes "because the potatoes will cry their eyes out." The joke has been cited in print since at least 1912:…
“Firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out”
An adage about the bravery -- or insanity -- of firefighters is that they run into a burning building when every else is running out. (The adage sometimes says that the "rats and roaches"…
Selkirk Hurdle
The "Selkirk hurdle" describes the route that freight trains must travel to enter New York City. There is no freight crossing across the Hudson River into New York City, so trains must…
“Shit rolls downhill”
"Shit flows/rolls/runs downhill" means that difficulties flow from the top of an organization to the bottom, and those on the bottom will get the "shit." The saying has been…
“Real heroes don’t wear capes—they wear dog tags”
"Real heroes don't wear capes -- they wear dog tags" has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts and bumper stickers. "Real heroes don't wear capes or leap tall…
PM (precious metals)
Precious metals are rare metallic chemical elements of high economic value, such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The term "PM" for "precious metals" has been cited in…
World’s Largest Hotel Lobby (San Antonio River Walk nickname)
The San Antonio River Walk passes by many downtown hotels. The "world's largest hotel lobby" has been an untrademarked nickname of the River Walk. "We have the world's…
“Take to the cleaners” (financially wipe out)
To take or send someone "to the cleaners" means to wipe that person out, financially or otherwise. The saying was first used in sports and gambling. In April 1906, boxer Rufe Turner said…
Glittering Grotto in the Sky (530 East 72nd Street)
The 3,200-square foot, 4-bedroom penthouse at 530 East 72nd Street was owned by Frank Sinatra from 1961 to 1972, where he held many famous parties. Artist Andy Warhol dubbed it a "glittering…