Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A popular Halloween ghost riddle about the bologna/baloney sandwich is: Q: What does a ghost eat for lunch?A: A BOO-logna (BOO-loney) sandwich. The riddle has been cited in print since at least…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was nicknamed "Fix Be In" for its handling of several 2016 cases. Many Republicans and Conservatives believed that the "fix" was in to…
A Cyclops riddle is: Q: Why did the Cyclops give up teaching?A: He only had one pupil. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1980. “Why did the cross-eyed teacher lose her…
A popular vampire riddle is: Q: What's a vampire's favorite fruit?A: A blood orange. "Q: What’s a vampire’s favorite fruit? A: Blood orange" was cited in a 1991 newspaper…
"Spooktacular" (spook + spectacular) is a word that's popular at Halloween time. The first citation of the word is from "A Hallowe'en Party" by Laura Smith, published…
A "hauntrepreneur" (haunt + entrepreneur) is someone who makes a business creating scary things, such as a Halloween haunted house. "Hauntrepreneur" was cited in print in 1957,…
A popular Halloween riddle about pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns is: Q: What do you call a fat jack-o'-lantern?A: A plumpkin. The joke (also in a "fat pumpkin" version) has been…
A popular Halloween ghost/witch riddle is: Q: What do ghosts put on their bagels?A: Scream cheese. "What do witches put on their bagels? Scream cheese" was printed in the Chicago (IL)…
A popular Halloween ghost riddle is: Q: What do ghosts read at a concert?A: Sheet music. "What music do ghosts prefer? Sheet music" was printed in several newspapers in October 1981. 25…
A Halloween ghost pun on Post Toasties cereal is: Q: What do ghosts eat for breakfast?A: Ghost Toasties. The "Ghost Toasties" joke has been cited in print since at least 1940, when the…
A Halloween ghost pun on Cream of Wheat is: Q: What do ghosts eat for breakfast?A: Scream of Wheat. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1980. “What do ghosts eat for…
A popular Halloween riddle about ghosts and goblins is: Q: Why is a ghost a messy eater?A: Because he is always a goblin. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997. Google Groups:…
A skeleton key is a master key that opens many doors. "Now I know how ghosts get into haunted houses. They use skeleton keys!" was printed in the Washington (DC) Post on November 28,…
A skeleton key is a master key that opens many doors. "Now I know how ghosts get into haunted houses. They use skeleton keys!" was printed in the Washington (DC) Post on November 28,…
Skeletons have "no body" (nobody), and a July 1953 newspaper riddle went: Q. Why didn't the skeleton go to the ball?A. Because he had nobody to go with. A November 1953 newspaper…
A popular ghost riddle is: Q: When does a ghost have breakfast?A: In the moaning. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1996, when it was included in a Halloween joke list. Google…
A popular monster riddle is: Q: What's a monster's favorite bean?A: A human bean. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1996, when it was included in a Halloween joke list.…
A riddle about rap music is: Q: What is a mummy's favorite type of music?A: Wrap. The "wrap music" joke has been cited in print since at least 1988. 5 November 1988, Palm Beach (FL)…
A popular ghost riddle is: Q: Why do ghosts like to ride in elevators?A: It lifts their spirits. "Q. Why did the ghosts get in the elevator? A. They wanted to raise their spirits" was…
A skeleton beauty contest? "Who won the skeleton beauty contest? No body" was posted to the newsgroup alt.folklore.ghost-stories on October 31, 1997. "I heard no body won the…