Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"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…
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…
Some employees believe that the later they arrive to work, the sooner it's over. "My boss asked my why I was always late for work. I'm like, 'Cause it make the day go faster.…
"Busting a nut" means working very hard. "Bust" also means a police arrest, and "nut" also means a crazy person. "When cops catch a crazy person, that's…
Gumbo was designated in 2004 as the official state cuisine of Louisiana. The city of New Orleans has sometimes been called the "Gumbo City," often used as a metaphor similar to…
"Acclaim" sounds like "a claim." An insurance pun was posted on the website Pun of the Day in March 2000: "A good insurance company knows how to handle acclaim." Pun…
"The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "Miss Stella Delaney was lost in…
"If your wife want to learn to drive, don't stand in her way" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many images. "Warning: If your wife wants to learn to drive,…
"Money can't buy happiness" is a proverb that has been cited in English since at least 1821. There have been many additions to the proverb. "Money doesn´t make happiness. It…
The Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind" (1962) begins: "How many roads must a man walk downBefore you call him a man?" "How many roads must a man walk down before he…
"Why is it called 'after dark' when it really is 'after light'?" is a one-line saying that has been printed on many images. The saying, along with other…
"Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying means that people who go camping will eventually want to stay…
Many students copy the homework of others. "Worst excuse for not turning in homework: I couldn't find anyone to copy it from" is a jocular school saying that has been printed on…