TINA (There Is No Alternative)
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, often said that "there is no alternative" to her monetary policies. "SOME OF Mrs.…
“My friend helped me move and dropped 20% of my couch on his foot. Ouch”
A couch joke was posted on Reddit -- 3amjokes on June 11, 2019: "I just lost 20% of my couch. Ouch." "Couch" is a five-letter word, and the letter "C" is 20% of the…
“I went to the grocery store. The sign said ‘no food or drink inside.’ So I went home”
Grocery stores often have a sign that says "No food or drink inside." The sign means that customers shouldn't bring food or drink inside the store, but it can be read the wrong way.…
“The person who would proof read Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi”
The Nazi Party and its leader, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), are well known. "The Soup Nazi" episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld (original airdate on November 2, 1995) made the term…
“At the gym, I decided to hop on a treadmill. Got weird looks, so I started jogging instead”
A treadmill is for jogging, but people initially "hop on." A joke was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes on July 3, 2019: "While I was at the gym, I decided to hop on a treadmill. People…
Gay Street (Greenwich Village)
The term "Gay Greenwich Village" and the name "Gay Street" have both contributed to the understanding -- or misunderstanding -- of the word "gay." GAY GREENWICH…
“If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock. That’s very humerus”
"What do you get if you boil a funny bone?....Laughing Stock #joke" was posted on Twitter by James Gilbertson on January 26, 2013. "If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing…
“What’s a web developer’s favorite tea?”/“URL Grey.”
Many people pronounce "URL" as "Earl," leading to puns about "URL Grey tea." "URL grey?" was posted on the newsgroup alt.devilbunnies on November 24, 1999.…
“What did they call the loudest knight of all?”/“Sir Roundsound.”
There are many fanciful names of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. "Surround sound" is not one of the knights, but there are puns. "The stereophonic knight: Sir Round…
“What’s a web designer’s favorite tea?”/“URL Grey.”
Many people pronounce "URL" as "Earl," leading to puns about "URL Grey tea." "URL grey?" was posted on the newsgroup alt.devilbunnies on November 24, 1999.…
“Yankee, go home!”
"Yankee, go home!" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The original banner was displayed by East German youths at a march in Berlin, on the Unter den Linden, on May 28,…
Bum Rap (undeserved criminal punishment)
A "bum rap" means an undeserved criminal punishment. "Bum" means something of miserable quality; "rap" means a criminal accusation. "Then another fellow told of…
Chip Butty
A "chip butty" sandwich is "butty" (buttered sandwich) with "chips" (french fried potatoes). The "chip butty" is popular in the United Kingdom. "There…
“I owe it all to art books, chocolate and young men” (Beatrice Wood)
"I owe it all to art books, chocolate and young men" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is credited to American artist and studio potter Beatrice Wood…
“What’s a cowboy’s favorite holiday?”/“Y’alloween.” (y’all + Halloween)
"Y'alloween" ("y'all" + "Halloween") is something that might be said in a jocular version of the holiday in the South. "Y'alloween" was…
“I can eat sugar with either hand. I’m ambidextrose”
"I can eat sugar with either hand. I'm ambidextrose" ("ambidetrose" is a portmanteau of "ambidextrous" and "dextrose") is a joke that has been printed…
“My nerdy friend got a Ph.D. on the history of palindromes. He is now known as ‘Dr. Awkward’”
"Dr. Awkward" is a palindrome -- that is, it reads the same backwards and forwards. "I have a Ph.D in awkwardness... Call me Dr. Awkward" is a joke that was posted on Twitter by…
“I named my eraser Confidence. Because it gets smaller after every mistake I make”
"I named my eraser Confidence. Because it gets smaller after every mistake I make" is a joke that was posted on Reddit -- Cleanjokes on June 20, 2013. "Smaller and smaller" is…
“Never judge a pitch until both sides have batted on it” (cricket adage)
"Don't/Never judge a pitch until both sides have batted on it" is a cricket adage of unknown authorship. It's possible that it's the players (and not the pitch) that are…
“My colleagues at work have given me the nickname ‘Mr. Compromise’” (joke)
"My nickname is Mr. Compromise. Thats what all my friends call me. Though it's not the name I would have picked for myself...it's alright, I guess" is a joke that was posted on…