“Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up”
"History repeats itself" is an old proverb. In February 1944, a new slant to the proverb appeared in a Los Angeles (CA) newspaper: "After reading about the cost of the present war…
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“Taxpayer: Someone who works for the government but doesn’t have to take a civil service exam”
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) said in June 1965: ""A taxpayer? That's someone who works for the government who doesn't have to take a civil service exam." The quip has been…
Spit-take
Danny Thomas (of television's Make Room for Daddy, or The Danny Thomas Show, from 1953-1964) is credited for either inventing or popularizing the "spit-take." He would take a drink…
Yomentum (“yo” or “yes” momentum)
A minority party is sometimes called a "party of 'no,'" saying "no" to the majority party's agenda. When members of the majority party also disagree with some of…
“(I’ll give you my gun when you take it) From my cold, dead hands”
"I will give up my gun when they pry my cold, dead fingers from around it" is a bumper sticker slogan supporting gun rights and dating from at least March 1972. "I'll give up my…
“There are old traders and bold traders, but there are no old, bold traders”
"There are old traders around and there are bold traders around, but there are no old, bold traders around" has been attributed to Bob Dinda, some time in the 1980s. The Wall Street maxim…
“A dollar-three-eighty”
"A dollar three-eighty" means a small (or unknown) amount, given in a nonsense language. The term appears in the Texas Crude (1984) slang collection and it has been described (below) as…
“Denise” and “Denephew” (New York dialect joke)
New York dialect has historically pronounced "these-them-those" and "dese-dem-dose." A joke (cited in print to at least 1972) usually attributes this comical dialect to someone…
“What do you think of Flushing, New York?”/“I think it would be a good idea.”
Flushing, Queens, is a Dutch name, corresponding to the city of Vlissingen in the Netherlands. However, a joke compares the Flushing name with the "flushing" of a toilet. "What do…
South By or Southby (South by Southwest or SXSW)
Austin's "South by Southwest" festival (since 1987) is often referred to by its initials (SXSW). In the 2000s, the festival grew very large, expanding beyond indie bands to include…
Treasoncrat (treason + bureaucrat/Democrat)
"Treasoncrat" could be a form of the words "treason" and "bureaucrat," but usage usually refers to a "Democrat." Users of "treasoncrat" have…
Shamrock Shake
The green "Shamrock Shake" is a specialty of McDonald's restaurants, usually available only around St. Patrick's Day. McDonald's states that the shake was introduced in…
Shamrock Sandwich
A "shamrock sandwich" is one specialty that is made for St. Patrick's Day. There appears to be no one recipe for the shamrock sandwich; in every decade, the recipes are different.…
Shamrock Cookie
A "shamrock cookie" is one specialty that is made for St. Patrick's Day. Shamrock cookies are usually sugar cookies, shaped into a shamrock (clover) and sprinkled with green sanding…
Leprechaun Cookie
A "leprechaun cookie" is one specialty that is made for St. Patrick's Day. It's a cookie made to look like a leprechaun -- somewhat similar to gingerbread men. The recipes…
Femivore
Peggy Orenstein wrote "The Femivore's Delemma" for the New York (NY) Times Sunday Magazine of March 14, 2010. A "femivore" is a feminist farmer -- and not someone who eats…
“Taxi driver made them pray” (joke)
New York City cabbies have a reputation of reckless driving. A joke tells of a minister who gets into a cab and dies in a crash. St. Peter allows the taxi driver into heaven, but not the minister.…
Congresscritter (Congress + critter)
"Congresscritter" (or "Congress critter" or "Congress-critter," and also in lowercase "congresscritter") is an unflattering nickname for a member of…
“Do you know the way to the Empire State Building, or should I just go fuck myself?”
New Yorkers sometimes have a (probably unfair) reputation of being rude to tourists. If a tourist asks "Do you have the time?" or "Do you know the way to the Empire State…
“Make me one with everything” (Zen master-ordering-a-hot dog joke)
A "hot dog with everything" is one that has been "dragged through the garden" --that is, loaded up with mustard, onions, sweet pickle relish, and various other toppings. A joke…