Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
American humorist Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) wrote in her syndicated newspaper column in November 1988 about Thanksgiving dinner: "Do men ever really appreciate what women have to go through to…
American humorist Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) wrote in her syndicated newspaper column in November 1988 about Thanksgiving dinner: "Do men ever really appreciate what women have to go through to…
A popular Thanksgiving riddle is: Q: What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?A: The letter "g." The riddle has been cited in print since at least 2006, when it was included on a web…
A Thanksgiving riddle about arithmetic/math teachers is: Q: What do math teachers do on Thanksgiving?A: Count their blessings. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 2006. Brownielocks…
"Mince pie" sounds like "mince spy." The observation was cited in an 1872 newspaper: "The little boy who wanted to go and see the French Spy, was told to be good and stay…
A Thanksgiving food riddle is: Q: What did the Pilgrims use to bake cakes?A: May-flour. "What did the Pilgrims use to bake cakes? May-flour!" was posted on Twitter on November 25, 2009.…
A Thanksgiving dinner riddle is: Q: What do you wear to a Thanksgiving dinner?A: A har-vest. "What do you wear to Thanksgiving dinner? A Har-VEST" was cited on a 2006 website. "What…
The stock market doesn't sell chicken stock, but there's a joke: "Do you know where you can get chicken broth in bulk? The stock market." "To me, stock market means…
The stock market doesn't sell chicken stock, but there's a joke: "Do you know where you can get chicken broth in bulk? The stock market." "To me, stock market means…
A person's "taste buds" are eating or drinking buddies, but there's a riddle: Q: What do you call friends who eat together?A: Taste buds. "Q: What do you call 2 friends who…
A "monster" riddle about fish and chips is: Q: What do sea monsters eat?A: Fish and ships. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1966. “What does a physicist have for…
"Somersaults" can be performed at any season, but there's a riddle: Q; Why didn't the acrobat work in the winter?A: He wanted to do summer-saults. "Q. Why don't…
A pizza riddle is: Q: What do you call a sleeping pizza?A: A pizzzza. "Zzzz" indicates sleeping or snoring. "What do you call a sleepy pizza? A pizzzzZzzzZZzzza" was posted on…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A "bar of soap" version is: "A stinky man walks into a bar. Unfortunately it…
An orchestra riddle about a cellist is: Q: What do you call a microbiologist in an orchestra?A: A cell-ist. The joke was posted to Twitter on May 17, 2014. TwitterLeah Ran@leahaelrWhat do you…
An orchestra riddle is: Q: What do you call a group of killer whales playing musical instruments?A: An orca-stra. The joke was published in Boys' Life magazine in May 1996. Wikipedia: Killer…
A cheese riddle has been printed on GIFs: Q: What do you call cheese by itself?A: Prov-alone (Provolone). The joke was posted to Reddit on June 10, 2014. Wikipedia: ProvoloneProvolone (pronounced…
"Did you hear about the sensitive burglar? He takes things personally" is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images. The joke was first cited on Thought Catalog and then…
A Thanksgiving turkey riddle is: Q: What did the turkey say before it was roasted?A: "Boy! I'm stuffed!" The joke has been cited in print since at least 1973. “Who doesn’t eat on…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was criticized by many Americans in 2016 for its investigation of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The website iOTWReport.com on September 30, 2016…