Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Many college graduates can't find jobs in what they majored in. "In this economy even farmers are having a hard time getting a job in their field" was posted on Twitter on May 21,…
The term “girther” (girth + -er) is similar to the related terms "birther (a person skeptical about another person’s birth information) and “truther” (a person skeptical of the…
"Clamdestine" (clam + clandestine) is an infrequently used and jocular shellfish term. "Clamdestine -- Something secretive among shellfish" was published in The Arizona Republic…
Many people feed bread to the birds in a park. A joke has two homeless people talking on a park bench: HOMELESS PERSON ON PARK BENCH: Did you bring bread for the pigeons?SECOND HOMELESS PERSON: No,…
There's a difference between "asthmatic" (asthma) and "basmatic" (basmati rice), but there have been jokes. This was printed in the Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) on…
"Human beings" sounds like "human beans." A joke was printed in Tit-Bits in 1933: "A teacher, giving a lesson on beans, asked the children to compose sentences containing…
For many immigrants to the United States (and especially to New York, through the Ellis Island immigration station), American was thought to be the "Golden Land" of opportunity, where the…
"I don't think the art of being a mime holds any artistic value. It just doesn't speak to me" is a jocular saying that was posted on Twitter on March 9, 2013. "As an art…
The Special Olympics is a sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. A politically incorrect meme uses "Special Olympics" to define a meaningless victory.…
Some people view eating nuts like eating wood. "Aren't nuts weird? Like tasty wood" was posted on Twitter on July 6, 2010. "Nuts: 'Tasty wood'" was posted on…
The Special Olympics is a sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. A politically incorrect meme uses "Special Olympics" to define a meaningless victory.…
"Meteorologist" sounds like "meaty urologist," and the pun has been printed on several images. "By the way, why are all the weather forecasts on television given by meaty…
A general's "armies" usually doesn't refer to his physical arms, but there's a riddle: Q: Where did the general keep his armies?A: In his sleevies. The joke has been cited…
"Trans fat" is different from "transsexual," but there have been several jokes. “I may be skinny but I identify as transfat" was posted on Twitter on November 27, 2014.…
Many charities have high overhead, and the donated money doesn't reach the purpose of the charity. A joke was posted on Twitter by Sickipedia on January 3, 2012: "I just donated a…
"Hard at work" is a saying that can also have a sexual connotation. "I got fired from my job as a porn actor because i wasnt always hard at work" was posted on Twitter on August…
A sausage roll riddle is: Q: How do you make a sausage roll?A: Push it. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1925 and 1978. “How do you make an egg roll?"/"Push it,"…
A duck riddle is: Q: What do ducks eat for breakfast?A: Quacker Oats. "Quacker Oats" puns were cited in print in 1978 and 1982, and the full riddle has been cited in print since at least…
A nationality joke is: Q: If you’re an American in the kitchen, what are you in the bathroom? A: European (you're a-peeing). The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976. 12 April…
"Cryptocalypse" and "cryptopocalypse" (crypto + apocalypse) have had more than one meaning. The first meaning describes the effects of quantum computing on encryption methods.…