Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A popular breakfast riddle is: Q: What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish?A: Every morning you’ll rise and shine! "The newest is a mixture of yeast and shoe polish for people who want…
Reddit -- Jokes is a social website that contains many, many recycled jokes. After a recycled joke is posted, someone in the comments often adds a new twist. Another person then comments, "The…
"'Wow, the Lean Cuisine really filled me up!' said no one ever" is a jocular line that has been printed on several images. "Damn that lean cuisine filled me up!…
A gum riddle is: Q: What did the shoe say to the gum?A: "Stick with me and we'll go places." The joke has been cited in print since at least 1987. 27 December 1987, Arkansas Democrat…
"My wife still hasn't told me what my New Year's resolutions are" is a jocular saying that was posted on Twitter by Just Bill on December 21, 2016. The saying has been printed…
Finnair (the national airline of Finland) sounds a little bit like "thin air." New York-born newspaper columnist Bennett Cerf (1898-1971) wrote in March 1970 (referring to a 1969 story in…
A riddle about the subject of Economics has been cited in print since at least 2003: Q: What would Economics be without assumptions?A: Accounting. "Economics without assumptions is…
A win in sports is often called a "W." A riddle is: Q: What's the difference between the [winless sports team] and the alphabet?A: The alphabet has a "W." "What's…
"Drag" is sometimes given the backronym (back acronym) of "DRess(ed) As a Girl" or "Dressed Resembling A Girl." The Oxford English Dictionary records "drag"…
The expression to start something "on the right foot" is usually not meant to be taken literally, but there have been jokes. "Before the clock strikes midnight, make sure to raise…
The state of Mississippi sounds like "Mrs. Hippie." The pun has been cited in print since at least December 14, 1968, when this was printed in the Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette: "A…
"Rice wine" is just one letter from "ice wine." A riddle was posted on Reddit -- Clean Jokes on January 1, 2018: Q: How do you make rice wine cold?A: Remove the "r."…
There's a difference between "telling dad" jokes and telling "dad jokes." The former is told to a father, while the latter is usually told by a father. A joke was posted on…
The supermarket checkout dividers are not for sale, but a joke was posted on Twitter by sickipediabot on June 13, 2013: "No matter how much I try and buy supermarket conveyor belt dividers,…
"It's always good to find out you're going to be working from home, unless you're a fireman" is a jocular one-line saying from English writer and stand-up comedian Gary…
"Migas" (a Tex-Mex dish) might sound like "me gas." A joke has been cited in print since at least 2015: Q: Why don’t I eat beans?A: Cuz it gives migas. Wikipedia: MigasMexican…
Should you kiss on New Year's Day? "I don't kiss on new years because you're not supposed to kiss on the first date" was posted on Twitter on July 10, 2013. "You…
Are hash browns just flat tater tots -- that is, fried potatoes in another shape? "REALIZATION: mcdonald's hash browns are really enormous, flat tater tots" was posted on Twitter on…
A leprechaun riddle was posted on Twitter on March 17, 2009: Q: Why do leprechauns laugh when they run? A: Cuz the grass tickles their nuts. A soccer version of the leprechaun riddle was posted on…
The term "high and mighty" doesn't necessarily refer to a bodybuilder on weed, but there are jokes. "Most of my peeps smoke weed after they hit the gym, thinking they all high…