There must be a word for a disfunctional memory [like mine] that remembers who, when and where a brilliant phrase first is registered. The same memory fails spectacularly where it matters, of course.
Examples:
so poor he doesn't have a pot to piss in [passenger, Brighton Station, c. 1956]
Scarce as rocking horse **** [Forecasters' Course c. 1960]
Built like a brick ****house [Air Trafficker, RAF Leeming, c. 1965]
Like **** off a shiny shovel [Corporal fireman, RAF Guetersloh, c. 1970]