Paul H. Gilbert’s syndicated newspaper column of “Daffynitions” (humorous or “daffy” definitions) included the following in January 1947:
“MISER: A man who lets the rest of the world go buy.”
The definition has been frequently reprinted, often with “person” replacing “man.”
19 January 1947, Seattle WA) Times, “Daffynitions” by Paul H. Gilbert, Magazine, pg. 13, col. 4:
MISER: A man who lets the rest of the world go buy.
29 March 1949, Greensboro (NC) Daily News, “Today’s Chuckle,” pg. 1, col. 4:
Miser: One who’s perfectly content to let the rest of the world go buy.—Weekly Progress.
Google Books
Handbook of Humor for All Occasions
By Jacob Morton Braude
London: Bailey Bros. & Swinfen
1958
Pg. 306:
Miser: one who’s perfectly content to let the rest of the world go buy.
Google Books
The Sourcebook of Humor
By James C. Hefley
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House
1968
Pg. 183:
Miser: Man who lets the rest of the world go buy.
15 July 1971, Markham Tribune (Harvey, IL), pg. 15, col. 4:
Definition
Miser: Person who lets the rest of the world go buy.
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
6 December 1982, The News Chronicle (Pawling, NY), “Tale Lites” by Eric David Clark, pg. 5, col. 1:
Zeb says a miser is a person who lets the world go buy.
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of Humor
By Geoff Tibballs
New York, NY: Carroll & Graf
2000
Pg. 342:
Miser—A person who lets the world go buy.
Twitter
mark et words
@MarkEtWords
Miser – a person who lets the world go buy.
3:24 PM - 6 Apr 2015
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
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“Women belong in the kitchen. Men belong in the kitchen. The kitchen has food” (3/22)
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“Women belong in the kitchen. Men belong in the kitchen. The kitchen has coffee” (3/22)
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Entry in progress—BP (3/22)
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“Women belong in the kitchen. Men belong in the kitchen. The kitchen has bacon” (3/22)
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“New Rule: You’re not allowed to work longer than the number of hours you slept the night before” (3/22)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.