Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A computer "mouse" riddle has been printed on images: Q: Why can't cats work on the computer? A: They get too distracted chasing the mouse around. The joke was posted on Twitter on…
"Big Road Apple" (Big Apple + road apple) is an unflattering nickname for New York City. "Road apple" is a term derived from the horse manure that used to be found on roads in…
A restaurant's menu is different from a computer's menu. A comic was posted on comic.browserling.com on September 9, 2015, showing a web developer looking at a restaurant's menu and…
"An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a narrow field" is a jocular definition of an expert that has been printed on many images. The quotation has been…
A supermarket shopping joke has been printed on many images: "I hate when people see me at the super market and are like. 'Hey, what are you doing here?' I'm like, 'Oh you…
A restaurant's menu is different from a computer's menu. A comic was posted on comic.browserling.com on September 9, 2015, showing a web developer looking at a restaurant's menu and…
"A best/good friend is like a four-leaf clover -- hard to find, and/but lucky to have" is a friendship saying that has been printed on many images. "A good friend is like a four-leaf…
"A truck carrying onions has overturned. Motorists are advised to find a hard shoulder to cry on" is a joke that originated in the United Kingdom. Scottish stand-up comedian and actor…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." An impressionist version is: "A really bad impressionist walks into a bar. The…
"Mayonnaise" sounds like "mayo neighs." A group of singers were called the "Mayo-Neighs" according to a 1968 newspaper. A horse was named "May O'Neighs"…
"The richer you get, the more expensive happiness becomes" is a one-line saying that has been printed on many images. The saying means that one must have more expensive toys the richer…
A pirate riddle was posted on Twitter on March 13, 2012: Q: What grades do you need to get into pirate college? A: Seven C's. A slightly different pirate college riddle was posted on Reddit --…
"It doesn't matter how low the dollar will go, I will always bend down and pick it up" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on images. "No matter how low the…
"Under the table" means secretly or covertly. A riddle was posted on Twitter on June 3, 2010: Q: How do midget waiters get paid?A: Under the table. TwitterBarry Taylor @btjokesFollow…
Trust has its limits. "You can trust your dog to guard your house but never trust your dog to guard your sandwich" was posted on Twitter on November 20, 2012. "You can trust a dog to…
A joke about someone drinking varnish was published in the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle on April 7, 1938: "Poor Joe! He died from drinking varnish.""At least he had a fine finish."…
"Can't Slam a Revolving Door" was a headline in The Architect and Engineer for October 1921. "The Hardest Job in the World -- Slamming a revolving door" was published in a…
A clock's dead battery records the time of its death. "It's always creepy when a clock battery dies. It's time of death is displayed in your room until you replace it" was…
A computer's "recycle bin" doesn't contain cans and bottles like other recycle bins, but there are jokes. "If homeless will sit on computer,he'll go on recycle…
Many students study for a test, but then quickly forget everything. “Let's do the test before I forget everything" was published in a 1997 book. "Let's do this test before I…