Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A classic riddle is: Q: How many sides does a ball have?A: Two -- the inside and the outside. "How many sides has a tree?" was a question asked in many newspapers in 1851. "How many…
A French press is not a piece of gym equipment, but there's a joke: "Did you hear about the barista who became really buff? She's been working on her French press."…
Several jokes have it that feminists study "trigonometry" or "triggernometry" (trigger + trigonometry). "If a tumblr feminist majors in Women's rights, what do they…
"Study/Work Tip: Stand up. Stretch. Take a walk. Go to the airport. Get on a plane. Never return" is a jocular work tip that has been printed on many images. "Study tip: Keep your…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A chemistry version is: "Oxygen, Hydrogen, Sulfur, Sodium, and Phosphorus walk into a…
"Asphalt" sounds like "ass fault." A pun was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on August 5, 2017: "My neighbor blamed my gravel for making him fall, but it was his dumb…
"I'm not self medicating myself with booze. The guy at the liquor store wrote me a prescription. Well he called it a receipt...whatever" is a jocular drinking saying that has been…
Is sex a sport? A popular joke is: DOCTOR: Do you play any sports?PATIENT: Does sex count?DOCTOR: Yes, of course.PATIENT: Then. no. The joke was posted on Twitter on July 11, 2015, and has been…
A popular ice fishing joke has been cited in print since at least 1990. A person is ice fishing when he (or she) hears a booming voice, "THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!" The person then…
A cowboy riddle has been cited in print since at least the early 2010s: Q: Why aren't cowboys good at math?A: Because they always round up! "Cowboys can never be accountants because all…
"Study/Work Tip: Stand up. Stretch. Take a walk. Go to the airport. Get on a plane. Never return" is a jocular work tip that has been printed on many images. "Study tip: Keep your…
People who take selfies might be overly self-absorbed, but what about those who obsess about likes? "I don't understand people that have goals like getting likes on their selfie" was…
"Free men do not ask for permission to bear arms" is a pro-gun saying that has been printed on several images. The saying was posted on Twitter on August 30, 2009, and became popular on…
When people see a police car by the side of the road, they tend to slow down -- whether the car is occupied or not. "Empty Police cars are scarecrows for people" was posted on Twitter on…
"Free people don't ask for permission" is an anti-government saying that has been printed on several images. The saying means that free people don't have to ask (or beg) for…
"I hate when the debit/credit card reader at the checkout asks if the amount is okay? No. It's not. I want all this crap for a dollar" is a jocular saying that has been printed on…
"The only time a woman is helpless is when her nail polish is drying. Other than that, watch out" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "The only time a woman is helpless…
"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere" is a famous line from the song "New York, New York" (1977), composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. When North…
People call in sick -- but from the parking lot of the job? "I'm not above calling in sick from the parking lot" is a work saying that been printed on several images. "I feel…
"I can't turn water into wine, but I can turn pizza into breakfast" is a jocular pizza saying that has been printed on several images. "I may not be able to turn water into…