Deborah in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, remembers a phrase from her grandfather: Desperate Ambrose. He’s so desperate he would steal a hot stove. The first part is a reference to Desperate Ambrose, a character in the comic strip “S’Matter Pop?,” by...
Fred Allen, an old-time radio performer from the medium’s golden age, had a dry gift for one-liners. He once said, “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns. He should be drawn and quoted.” Another Allen line: “I like long walks, especially when...
The “Think and Grin” section of Boy’s Life magazine has some pretty silly humor, especially in issues from the 1950’s. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Boy’s Life Humor” Lately just for fun I’ve been looking at copies of old...
liner n.— «Ten years ago, Roger Ruske told growers, Cumberland Nurseries decided to become a supplier of “liners.” Liners is a term for immature plants or trees that are kept for a year. The nursery that grows them then sells them to another, where...
blue-liner n.— «Along with Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, Blake would give them an unprecedented three Norris Trophy-winning blue-liners and the right to call themselves Cup favourites.» —“Blake has taste for Ducks” by Bob Duff Windsor...
eight-liner n.— «Capt. Steven Jett of the Houston Police Department estimates that Houston has 300 to 400 gaming rooms. Inside, one typically finds row after row of video gaming machines, often called “eight-liners” because there are eight ways to...