Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
"Easy to get a lawn with" sounds like "easy to get along with." "Easy to get a lawn with" was used by a seed company in an advertisement in the New York (NY) Times on…
Some people have reservations for a restaurant, while others have reservations about a restaurant. A popular joke has been cited in print since at least 1975: RESTAURANT HOST OR HOSTESS: Do you…
A Christmas riddle is: Q: How do you know when Santa is in the room?A: You can sense his presents (presence). The joke has been cited in print since at least 2010. Twitter Seth Caddell…
A joke about college athletes is: Q: How many NCAA basketball players does it take to change a light bulb?A: One. But he gets nine credits, $3,000, and a new car for it. The joke was posted on the…
The expression "to be bigger than" means that someone is "above" a small matter. "My mate asked me if he should punch the guy who told him he was fat as a walrus. I said,…
Doritos (tortilla chips) aren't Dory's toes, but there have been several jokes. "Doritoes? Okay. Eat these toes! With dori on emmm" was posted on Twitter on August 19, 2012.…
A joke about college athletes is: Q: How many NCAA basketball players does it take to change a light bulb?A: One. But he gets nine credits, $3,000, and a new car for it. The joke was posted on the…
Many people have found that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are expensive. The HMO backronym (back acronym) of "Hand Money Over" has been cited in print since at least 1996.…
"If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?" is a joke on police Miranda warnings that has been printed on many images. The saying has been cited in…
A tea riddle was posted on Reddit -- Dad Jokes on November 25, 2017: Q: How do you turn a T into a P?A: Drink it. “What starts with T, ends with T, and is full of T?”/"A teapot" is…
"Whorespondent" or "whorrespondent" (whore + correspondent) is a term used by people who don't have much faith in news correspondents. "The Communists of the Old Left,…
"Better days are just around the corner. They are called Friday, Saturday and Sunday" is a jocular work saying that has been printed on many images. "Better days are just around the…
A popular cheese joke involves the word "mature." "Was walking down the street the other day and someone threw grated cheese at me... I thought 'Hmmmm..... very…
The internet is often called simply "the net." A joke by Milton Jones was posted on Twitter on August 14, 2012: "My parents met on the net. They were both rubbish trapeze…
"Better days are coming. They are called Saturday and Sunday" is a jocular work saying that has been printed on many images. "Cheer up. Better days are coming. They're called…
A Christmas pun has Santa Claus coming down with the flu(e). A riddle was posted on a 1996 book: Q: What sickness did Santa get going down the chimney? A: The flu (flue). "Santa came down with…
"Rue" is the French word for "street." A riddle about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on December 20, 2015: Q: Which street in France do reindeer…
Some people have reservations for a restaurant, while others have reservations about a restaurant. A popular joke has been cited in print since at least 1975: RESTAURANT HOST OR HOSTESS: Do you…
"Loyalty" (or "loyaltea" or "loyal tea") is a word used in tea puns. "He asked what kind of tea I like, I replied loyalty..." was posted on Twitter on April…
The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 2012, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. A Titanic joke is: Q: What kind of coffee was served on the Titanic?A: Sanka. The joke has been cited…