Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreakThe 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute…
A classic train riddle is: Q: How do locomotives hear?A: Through their engine ears (engineers). The riddle was printed in the Waterloo City (IN) Press, "Queer Queries" by Prof. G. Howe…
"How is math like sex? First, you ADD a bed. Then, SUBTRACT the clothes. DIVIDE the legs and MULTIPLY!" was posted on the newsgroup rec.humor under the title "Old Math Joke" on…
Some paychecks never seem to be enough, and some people feel like they are never enough. "Well slap my ass and call me a paycheck, cause I’m never enough" was posted on Twitter by $.o.$…
"Ice cubes float (around) in a pool of their own blood" -- water -- is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is uncertain. "Ice cubes float in a pool of…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreakThe 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute…
"Corn teen" (or "corn-teen" or "cornteen") means "quarantine" and has nothing to do with corn or a teenager. The jocular "cornteen" has been…
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic made people socially distance and wear face masks. "Far cough" ("fuck off") was a popular joke. "Far cough" has been cited in print…
A Glock is usually not found in guacamole, but there are jokes. A popular image shows a Glock in a pot of guacamole. "You mean Glock-amole?"was posted on the newsgroup rec.guns on…
"I had my patience tested. I'm negative" -- that is, the speaker has no patience -- is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on Twitter by Dumb…
The boxing "Battle of the Century" between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier couldn't be held in New York State, so promoter Tex Rickard (1870-1929) built a huge octagonal bowl at…
"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series. "why…
Entry in progress -- B.P. "The House That Jack Built" is a traditional nursery rhyme. Boyle's Thirty Acres (1921 to 1927) in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a boxing arena that was also…
"Racoon" ("raccoon" with only one "C") is an anagram of "Corona" (as in "Coronavirus"). In the Japanese horror media franchise Resident Evil, there…
"There’s no such thing as government funded. It’s all taxpayer funded" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The exact authorship is unknown, but memes have been popular…
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused people to wipe clean many surfaces. "I wiped my tv down with anti virus wipes I got rid of @cnnbrk @MSNBC_Breaking @NBCNews @ABC @andersoncooper…
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic restricted air travel, and many people couldn't wait to be in an airplane again. "Can't wait to walk down the aisle someday... and hear those…
"Bacon is the duct tape of food" is a saying that has been printed on many images. Bacon can get wrapped around other foods and "fixes" them. "BACON is the duct tape of…
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic made people especially aware of coughing. This riddle was posted on Reddit -- Cleanjokes on May 7, 2020: Q: What do you call a cough that attracts a lot of…
"A meteorite is reportedly headed for Legoland. The devastation is expected to span a million square blocks" is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Jonnie W. on February 17, 2013. Legos…