Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Jokes about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center are numerous, although not politically correct. One popular riddle is: Q: Who are the world's…
American Jewish families have valued education. Brooklyn-born comedian, actress and television host Joan Rivers (1933-2014) was quoted in a Washington (DC) Post profile on June 11, 1986: "When…
American humorist Lewis Grizzard (1946-1994) listed several "rules to follow when ordering in an unfamiliar restaurant" in his newspaper column on April 11, 1986. The first rule was:…
A joke about autocorrection is: "I had a really funny joke, but autocorrect ruined the lunchtime." "Punchline" was changed to "lunchtime." The joke was posted on…
"Polo" is a game. "Pollo" is Spanish for "chicken." "Marco Polo" is a game played in a pool, and there are 'Marco Pollo" jokes. "The kids in…
"Never chase someone. Chase your dreams, then they will follow" is a popular motivational saying. "Stop chasing people.. Chase your dreams & if it's meant to be they will…
"I can't wait until I retire so I can get up early on a morning and drive around really slowly making everyone late for work" is a jocular saying about retirement. The saying was…
"A diet is something that helps a person gain weight more slowly.—Bill Copeland" is a jocular line about dieting that was printed in February 1976 newspapers. "A diet is what helps…
"To err is human; to forgive, divine" is from Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism (1711) . "To eat is human; to digest, divine" is a food parody. "To eat is human.…
Is chicken salad made "of" a chicken or made "for" a chicken? A joke is: "I made a chicken salad today. Cheeky bastard didn't even eat it." The joke was posted on…
A jocular definition of an apple is: "APPLE: Nutritious lunchtime dessert which children will trade for cupcakes." The jocular definition was posted to the newsgroup bit.listserv.down-syn…
"He's so old that when he orders a three-minute egg, they ask for the money up front" was said by American comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998) about New York-born comedian and actor…
"Sushi" sounds a little bit like "so she." A pun is: "My girlfriend disliked my obsession with Japanese food, sushi left me." The joke was posted on Twitter on…
"I'VE DECIDED TO WRITE MY TWEETS IN CAPITALS. I WROTE THIS ONE IN PARIS" is a jocular saying that has been printed -- sometimes all in capitals, sometimes not -- about various…
"The worst thing about accidents in the kitchen is that you usually have to eat them" is a jocular line about cooking. "The worst thing about accidents in the kitchen (says Franklin…
"My life is a constant battle between my love of food and not wanting to be/get fat" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on Twitter on…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Arthur "Bugs" BaerArthur "Bugs" Baer (January 9, 1886 – May 17, 1969) was an American journalist and humorist. Baer was prominent in the…
The American television sitcom Barney Miller (1975-1982) took place in a fictional New York City police station in Greenwich Village. Brooklyn-born character actor Abe Vigoda (1921-2016), playing…
"A sandwich is an unsuccessful attempt to make both ends meat" is a popular sandwich pun. "It is very hard to make both ends meat -- especially of a pic-nic sandwich" was…
The Washington (DC) Post is a newspaper that has covered events in the nation's capital city -- especially the federal government -- since 1877. The newspaper's name is frequently…