There is an exit of RI-146 for Breakneck Hill Rd. Recently, a friend (and native Rhode Islander) told me that this hill gave its name to the phrase "breakneck speed." Is this true?
Here is one that has been making the rounds on Twitter among Canadian hockey fans and a hockey broadcaster. What is the origin of "Hudson Bay rules"? It is used to describe a style of play where there are no penalties called (i.e., the referee puts his whistle away). As in, "They must be playin with Hudson Bay Rules tonight."
It might originate to the early days of hockey when it was played on the frozen Hudson's Bay. Can you find the origin? Thanks.
I would like to know the origins of common internet phrases such as "LOL" (laughing out loud), IMHO (in my humble opinion), or "STFU" the definition of which Rep Grayson of Florida shared with MSNBC not too long ago. Also, I'd like to know where such mainstay phrases in internet culture such as "FTW" (For the win), "Fail", "First", and "OMG" came from. Who was the first to coin them? On what websites? In what context?
It's well known that all quotes can be attributed to Mark Twain, except in leap years, when they can be traced to Will Rogers. There's no need to do any further research on the matter.
"Half of the people can be part right all of the time, And some of the people can be all right part of the time, But all of the people can't be all right all of the time. I think Abraham Lincoln said that." - Bob Dylan, Talkin' World War III Blues
Was it Everett Dirksen who first said, "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money."?
Is Dirksen also the source for Dirksen's Third Rule of Politics, "Don't get mad, get even."?
Were the first two rules, "Get elected. Get reelected."?
Governments with less-than-infinite budgets must choose between "guns and butter". This has been attributed to Herman Goering, speaking before World War II. Is this attribution correct?
I say that I don't want to "neb"---meaning, I don't want to be nosy. I could swear I heard that when I was little and picked it up for my lifetime, but now I can ask you: Did I just make up this word???
"Prediction is difficult, especially of the future."
This is usually attributed to Niels Bohrs, the most humorous of modern physicists, but I have never been able to find it in his writings or biographies about him
I suggest the term came from India and entered Europe (and later, America) from returning civil servants after Indian independence in 1947.
I also suggest that some early use of the phrase might be found in archives of newletters, bulletins and newspapers common to those returning 1947-1960 (?) Brits (and probably not available online).
The term busman's holiday refers to the idea that a busman would go on holiday travelling on a bus (it's an old expression) so his holiday is not different to his working life. So it survives in the sense of referring to people getting away from what they normally do but actually doing the same thing.
Karen in #14. My folks are Scottish and often chastised us not to be a "wee neb" any time we stuck our nose into someone else's business. Maybe you heard a version of this from someone with a similar heritage.
There's an internet quote/meme whose origins have been shrouded in mystery for a long time: "That's the beauty of it, it doesn't do anything!" To a person who has watched a lot of movies or TV (which means most weathered internet denizens), it certainly sounds familiar. Yet, so far, it simply seems to be a pseudo-quote: something that sounds like it's a quote from a famous movie or television show, but really isn't.
No offense (and I do hope this is published....I'd be very disappointed if it isn't), but "quote" is a verb...and the title is therefor incorrect. It would be "Quotations uncovered" (How to remember: you quote a quotation)
I've been trying to find the origin of the following quote. Repeated Internet searches that it was either James Michener or a traditional Buddhist saying. Would love to know the true origin:
'When you're going through hell ... keep going,' is often attributed to Winston Churchill, but I have never seen a actual reference to this quote. Anyone know where it was first said, and by whom?
"Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... well, you ain't gonna fool me again!"
-Bush
And here's a good one, to paraphrase:
"I disagree with what you have to say but will fight to the death for your right to say it."
It has been wrongly attributed to several of the US' founding fathers, but can actually be tracked down to a biography of Voltaire, although there is no proof of him actually saying it.
There are lots of quotes that have been repeated by politicians for thousands of years, but are falsely credited to modern day politicians (modern meaning in the past three hundred or so years.)
There is an exit of RI-146 for Breakneck Hill Rd. Recently, a friend (and native Rhode Islander) told me that this hill gave its name to the phrase "breakneck speed." Is this true?
ResponderEliminarHere is one that has been making the rounds on Twitter among Canadian hockey fans and a hockey broadcaster. What is the origin of "Hudson Bay rules"? It is used to describe a style of play where there are no penalties called (i.e., the referee puts his whistle away). As in, "They must be playin with Hudson Bay Rules tonight."
ResponderEliminarIt might originate to the early days of hockey when it was played on the frozen Hudson's Bay.
Can you find the origin?
Thanks.
I would like to know the origins of common internet phrases such as "LOL" (laughing out loud), IMHO (in my humble opinion), or "STFU" the definition of which Rep Grayson of Florida shared with MSNBC not too long ago. Also, I'd like to know where such mainstay phrases in internet culture such as "FTW" (For the win), "Fail", "First", and "OMG" came from. Who was the first to coin them? On what websites? In what context?
ResponderEliminarIt's nice when serious people get the joke play along!!
ResponderEliminarMy wife uses the term to talk a "blue streak" about someone who doesn't shut up. Where didi this originate from?
ResponderEliminarOK College Boy,
ResponderEliminarWho was the first to use the phrase "happier than an ass-up duck"? As in: "This girl makes me happier than an ass-up duck!"
Jimmy
Charlestown, MA
Here is a football quote that has been attributed to many people "Act like you've been there before"
ResponderEliminarI want to know why cattle are "doggies"? Any clues?
ResponderEliminarIt's well known that all quotes can be attributed to Mark Twain, except in leap years, when they can be traced to Will Rogers. There's no need to do any further research on the matter.
ResponderEliminar"Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
ResponderEliminarAnd some of the people can be all right part of the time,
But all of the people can't be all right all of the time.
I think Abraham Lincoln said that."
- Bob Dylan, Talkin' World War III Blues
Who was the first to coin the term, "soul mate." And can we shoot them for filling romantics with ridiculous expectations?
ResponderEliminarWas it Everett Dirksen who first said, "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money."?
ResponderEliminarIs Dirksen also the source for Dirksen's Third Rule of Politics, "Don't get mad, get even."?
Were the first two rules, "Get elected. Get reelected."?
Governments with less-than-infinite budgets must choose between "guns and butter". This has been attributed to Herman Goering, speaking before World War II. Is this attribution correct?
Washington DC
"Nobody eve got rich by over-estimating the intelligence of the public."
ResponderEliminarWas it Louis B Meyer? Intelligence or taste? Public or audience?
I say that I don't want to "neb"---meaning, I don't want to be nosy.
ResponderEliminarI could swear I heard that when I was little and picked it up for my lifetime, but now I can ask you: Did I just make up this word???
"Prediction is difficult, especially of the future."
ResponderEliminarThis is usually attributed to Niels Bohrs, the most humorous of modern physicists, but I have never been able to find it in his writings or biographies about him
Where did " I will beat you like a red headed step-child!" Come from?
ResponderEliminarWhich i am one so no offense to others.
"The whole nine yards" again....
ResponderEliminarI still think Saris or Turbans were the source.
I suggest the term came from India and entered Europe (and later, America) from returning civil servants after Indian independence in 1947.
I also suggest that some early use of the phrase might be found in archives of newletters, bulletins and newspapers common to those returning 1947-1960 (?) Brits (and probably not available online).
Anybody for a trip to the dusty archives?
Where did
ResponderEliminarHi Pat M,
ResponderEliminarThe term busman's holiday refers to the idea that a busman would go on holiday travelling on a bus (it's an old expression) so his holiday is not different to his working life. So it survives in the sense of referring to people getting away from what they normally do but actually doing the same thing.
Andrew
"Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me."
ResponderEliminarKaren in #14. My folks are Scottish and often chastised us not to be a "wee neb" any time we stuck our nose into someone else's business. Maybe you heard a version of this from someone with a similar heritage.
ResponderEliminarP.T. Barnum, as I recall, had a completely different view of humanity. Wasn't it he who said, "There's a sucker born every minute."?
ResponderEliminar"Don't kill the messenger" started from the Roman times, when wars were declared by killing the messenger and sending back his ears.
ResponderEliminarThere's an internet quote/meme whose origins have been shrouded in mystery for a long time: "That's the beauty of it, it doesn't do anything!" To a person who has watched a lot of movies or TV (which means most weathered internet denizens), it certainly sounds familiar. Yet, so far, it simply seems to be a pseudo-quote: something that sounds like it's a quote from a famous movie or television show, but really isn't.
ResponderEliminarMind your P's & Q's
ResponderEliminarNathan D.:
ResponderEliminarMost of those abbreviations are older than the internet, they were already used on the old teletype message systems.
R. Bliss:
I think this quote is correctly attributed to Stanislaw Jerzy Lek, a polish writer.
Eric M. Jones:
The roman toga has a length of about 7 yards, and it took some time and the help of a servant to get it right.
No offense (and I do hope this is published....I'd be very disappointed if it isn't), but "quote" is a verb...and the title is therefor incorrect. It would be "Quotations uncovered" (How to remember: you quote a quotation)
ResponderEliminarJames Michener or traditional Buddhist saying?
ResponderEliminarI've been trying to find the origin of the following quote. Repeated Internet searches that it was either James Michener or a traditional Buddhist saying. Would love to know the true origin:
A quote frequently attributed to Isaac Asimov:
ResponderEliminarThe most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...'
This comes up in a lot of lists, but the source is never given. In which of his over 300 books did he write this? Or if not him, then who did?
I've heard that P's and Q's refers to pints and quarts, and it essentially means, "Don't drink too much."
ResponderEliminarWhere does the phrase "Danger is my middle name" originate?
ResponderEliminarWhat is the origin of "Go big or go home"?
ResponderEliminarHere's a quotation to trace: "Olly Olly Oxen Free" (to indicate that children playing hide and seek may come out of hiding safely).
ResponderEliminar. Who first quoted the following?
ResponderEliminar'When you're going through hell ... keep going,' is often attributed to Winston Churchill, but I have never seen a actual reference to this quote. Anyone know where it was first said, and by whom?
ResponderEliminar"Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... well, you ain't gonna fool me again!"
ResponderEliminar-Bush
And here's a good one, to paraphrase:
"I disagree with what you have to say but will fight to the death for your right to say it."
It has been wrongly attributed to several of the US' founding fathers, but can actually be tracked down to a biography of Voltaire, although there is no proof of him actually saying it.
There are lots of quotes that have been repeated by politicians for thousands of years, but are falsely credited to modern day politicians (modern meaning in the past three hundred or so years.)