“Tax bads, not goods”
"Tax bads, not goods" is a saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts and buttons. American ecological economist Herman Daly of the University of Maryland has used…
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“In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom; in water there is bacteria”
"In vino veritas" is an ancient Latin phrase meaning "in wine there is truth." The saying arises from the belief that alcohol releases inhibitions and that a person tells the…
“You can’t steal second base while your foot is on first base”
"You can't steal second base while your foot is on first base" is a popular business proverb that uses baseball language. "Progress always involves risk. You can't steal…
“Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of your widow’s next husband”
"Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves" has been cited by The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (2009) to 1750; an Americanized version is "take care of the…
“Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder”
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder/beerholder" is a popular saying that has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and buttons. "Beer" is a modern…
“Most people don’t care about your problems, and the rest are glad you have them”
A personal and a business adage holds that one should never tell people your troubles because "half don't care about your problems and the rest are glad that you have them."…
“Visualize Whirled Peas” (“Visualize Word Peace” pun)
"Visualize World Peace" was a popular bumper sticker saying, prompting the pun "Visualize Whirled Peas" bumper sticker (often with "Stop the Violins" printed above or…
Northwet (Pacific Northwest + wet); Northwetters
The Pacific Northwest receives so much rain that it has been dubbed the "Pacific Northwet" (Pacific Northwest + wet) and its inhabitants "Northwetters." The nicknames date from…
“Summer begins on the 5th of July in Portland”
For most of the United States, the start of summer is marked by Memorial Day at the end of May. For people who live in Oregon and Washington, the start of summer is marked by the day after the 4th…
“When pleasure interferes with business, give up business” (business proverb)
Business people often try to avoid mixing business with pleasure. The usual rule applied is that if pleasure interferes with business, one should give up the pleasure because one's livelihood…
“It takes nine months to make a baby, no matter how many people you put on the job”
"It takes nine months to make a baby, no matter how many people you put on the job" is a popular American business proverb. For some businesses, such as apple-picking in an orchard,…
“Get me a table near a waiter” (restaurant joke)
The comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998) was a longtime member of New York Friars Club. When he walked in to the eating area, he'd always use his familiar line: "Get me a table near a…
“Egotism, n: Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with a pen”
"Egotism, n: Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with a pen" has often been incorrectly attributed to Ambrose Bierce (1842-1913), author of the satirical lexicon The Devil's…
“Born on third base and thinks he hit a triple” (a privileged person)
Texas politician Jim Hightower told the Democratic National Convention at Atlanta, Georgia, on July 19, 1988, about the Republican presidential candidate, George H. W. Bush: "He is a man who…
NIRP (Negative Interest Rate Policy)
"NIRP" (Negative Interest Rate Policy) has been cited in print since at least May 2008 and December 2008, but began appearing with frequency in the financial press in 2012. A central bank…
“A drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts”
"A drunk(en) man's words are a sober man's thoughts" is a proverb usually listed without a source. "What is on a sober man's mind is on a drunken man's…
Showrooming
"Showrooming" is when a potential customer examines a product in a brick and mortar retail store, but then purchases that product online -- where it may be cheaper (with a possible…
“Right side of history” (“Wrong side of history”)
The phrase "the right side of history" was said by American lawyer Clemens J. France in 1946 and "the wrong side of history" has been cited in print since at least 1951. In…
“Home, sweet home”
"Home, Sweet Home" is the title of a song by John Howard Payne (1791-1852) in his 1823 comic opera, Clari, or the Maid of Milan (first presented at the Dramatic Repository at 214 Broadway…
“They’re not saying ‘boo,’ they’re saying ‘Lou’ (Piniella)” (sports cheer)
Lou Piniella was a New York Yankee baseball player from 1974-1984 and Yankee manager from 1986-1987 and in 1988. When he'd come up to the plate, the baseball announcers would explain about…