Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
The book DOS For Dummies (1991) started a For Dummies series of instructional books. The title "Ventriloquism for Dummies" was suggested on the newsgroup alt.tasteless.jokes on June 2,…
Memes have frequently been described as the inside jokes of the internet. "Internet terminology a meme is basically a digital inside joke that gets passed from user to user often becoming…
Tea is sometimes called "hot leaf juice." This was popularized by the American animated television series on the Nickelodean channel, Avatar: The Last Airbender, in the episode "City…
New York City-born film producer Harvey Weinstein had a "casting couch" scandal in 2017. A joke was posted on Twitter on October 11, 2017: Q: What's the difference between an actress…
American comedian Mark Normand posted a WiFi joke on Twitter on February 4, 2010: "Churches never have wifi... I guess no church wants to compete with an invisible power that actually…
"Probiotic" sounds like something good, but some people might not like it if it went by another name. "'Probiotic' sounds a lot sexier that 'dead bacteria…
"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A Canadian version is: Q: Why did the Canadian cross the road?A: He…
"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A North Korea version is: Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?A:…
A bumpy road and a full bladder is a bad combination. "There are few things more painful than a sportsbike, a bumpy road & a full bladder" was posted on the newsgroup aus.motorcycles…
"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A Canadian version is: Q: Why did the Canadian cross the road?A: He…
Lollipops and chewing gum have been compared to "flavored saliva." "Ever think about when you suck on hard candy all you swallow is your flavored saliva?" was posted on Twitter…
"Is it strange that people like Wesley Snipes go to prison for tax evasion so that other people's tax dollars can pay to keep him there?" was posted on Twitter on December 9, 2010.…
A pedometer measures the wearer's steps. "Bought a pedometer the other day, it came with step by step instructions" is a jocular saying that was posted on Twitter by Chris…
Many non-digital clocks have three hands -- an "hour" hand, a "minute" hand and a "second" hand. A joke is that the "third hand" is the "second…
A pumpkin "patch" (where pumpkins grow) is not the same as a nicotine "patch" (used for nicotine replacement therapy), but there have been several jokes.…
Many people tape programs and fast forward through the advertisements. James Breakwell wrote on Twitter on March 20, 2013: "If advertisers were smart, they’d make a silent, slow-motion…
A person who lives on Park Avenue -- a street known for its wealthy residences -- is a "Park Avenuer" or "Park Avenoor." The term "Park Avenoor" was popularized by…
New York City-born actor Al Pacino has nothing to do with cappuccino coffee, but there is an Al Cappuccino Coffee House in Newport Beach, California. "Although I prefer the kind of coffee that…
"Most people overgeneralize" was posted on Reddit -- Oneliners on October 9, 2017. The statement itself is an overgeneralization. Reddit -- OnelinersMost people overgeneralize.submitted…
New York City-born actor Al Pacino has nothing to do with cappuccino coffee, but there is an Al Cappuccino Coffee House in Newport Beach, California. "Although I prefer the kind of coffee that…