Ham Sandwich
The ham sandwich -- cited in print from at least 1806 -- has long been one of the most popular sandwiches. The "sandwich" was named in England, and ham sandwiches were very popular in…
Search
Searched for . Search results: 38772
“Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result”
The definition of "insanity" has been described as "doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting a different result." This quotation has been attributed to Albert Einstein…
“The stock market trades to inflict the maximum amount of pain”
"The stock market trades to inflict the maximum amount of pain" is an infrequently used Wall Street adage. Andy Kessler has mentioned in at least twice in print (including in a November…
New Wild Boar Village
"York" has been translated as "place of yew trees" and as "wild boar town." In 2008, The Atlas of True Names suggested that the true name of New York City is "New…
Central Distressway (Central Expressway in Dallas)
Central Expressway (first opened in the 1950s) goes through downtown Dallas and has been dubbed "Central Distressway" since at least the early 1990s. The population of the Dallas area and…
Atomic Deer Turds
"Atomic deer turds" were named by food writer Robb Walsh in a November 19, 2008 post on the Houston (TX) Press food blog (see below). The "turd" name follows several others,…
Chitlin’ Circuit
The "chitlin' circuit" (also spelled "chitlins circuit" and "chittlins circuit" and "chitterling(s) circuit") is the name that was given to…
Roach Coach
"Roach coach" is an unfortunate nickname for many taco trucks. In the 1970s, airlines serving Latin America were sometimes called "roach coaches" (a slur against the…
MFFL (Mavericks Fan For Life)
"MFFL" stands for "Mavericks Fan For Life" (or "Mavs Fan For Life"). Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team in January 2000. By January 2001, Cuban…
Eggnog (Egg Nog)
Eggnog (also spelled "egg nog" and "egg-nog") contains beaten eggs with a liquor base, such as rum, brandy or whiskey. Milk, cream and sugar are often added. "Egg…
“Put 10% of your portfolio in gold and hope it doesn’t work” (investment adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 14 April 1989, The Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica), "The thing with the bad rep is gold" by Robert Heier (Copley News Service), pg. 23, cols. 1-2:Byron R. Wien of…
“Wall Street never discounts the same thing twice”
"Wall Street never discounts the same thing twice" is a stock exchange adage cited since at least the early 1930s. For example, it could be expected that a company is going to announce…
“Don’t let the tax tail wag the investment dog” (Wall Street adage)
"Don't let the tax tail wag the investment dog" (sometimes given as simply "dog" or "profit dog" or "savings dog"or "economic dog") means that…
Brother Jonathan (summary)
"Brother Jonathan" was an early representation of an American or of the United States, later replaced with "Uncle Sam." Brother Jonathan was the opposite of the personification…
“He who sells what isn’t his’n, must buy it back or go to prison”
A classic little saying about short selling on Wall Street is: "He who sells what isn't his'n, must buy it back or go to prison." The origin of the saying is unknown, but by…
Felon City; Wicked Sticks; Kliffside (Bacliff nicknames)
Bacliff is an unincorporated town in Galveston County, formerly called Clifton-by-the-Sea. A September 9, 2008 article in the Houston (TX) Press detailed the crime in Bacliff and some of the…
“The (rising) star of Texas” (Texas State slogan)
Texas State University-San Marcos has used the slogan "The rising star of Texas" since September 2005. In October 2008, it was proposed to eliminate the word "rising" to simply…
“We burn rubber and chipotles” (Houston taco truck slogan)
"We burn rubber and chipotles" has become a slogan at a Houston taco truck. Houston (TX) ChronicleIt's not your typical taco truckBy JENALIA MORENONov. 4, 2008, 7:27AM(...)Armando…
Uncle Sam (summary)
"Uncle Sam" is a personification of the United States, formed from the letters "U. S." The name became popular in the War of 1812; England was personified then as "John…
Doughnut Hole (Donut Hole)
Captain Hanson Crockett Gregory of Maine (1831-1921) is usually given credit for inventing the doughnut hole while at sea in 1847. Gregory explained his invention in an interview given in 1916 (see…