Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A boarding house usually has many boarders; boarding house pie is cut in many small slices so that each boarder has a piece. Anything that is cut many times into small pieces is said to be…
University of Texas head football coach Darrell Royal (1924-2012) was quoted in August 1966: "Trends are bunk. Only angry people win football games." Royal was talking about football…
"If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn’t eat ‘em" ("If worms had machine guns, birds wouldn't eat them") is a saying of unknown origin. "If worms had machine…
"As crooked as Pearl Street" was a pet phrase of William S. Devery (1854-1919), a New York City police chief who directed the language to others. "He is more crooked than Pearl…
A children’s number riddle is: Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7? A: Because 7 8 (ate) 9. A popular variation is: Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7?A: Because 7 is a registered 6 offender. "Why is 6 afraid of…
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
Patrolman Irving Francis ("Irv") Hayden provided rush hour traffic reports on Chicago's WGN radio in the 1960s. He coined the term "gapers' block" (cited in print…
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
A popular apple joke is: "What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm!" "Finding half a worm" implies that one has eaten the other half. The joke…
"A chicken in the car and the car won't go, that's the way to spell Chicago" is a popular Chicago rhyme that has been cited in print since at least 1926. The children's…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Wolf Point, ChicagoWolf Point is the location at the confluence of the North, South and Main Branches of the Chicago River in the present day Near North Side,…
Patrolman Irving Francis ("Irv") Hayden provided rush hour traffic reports on Chicago's WGN radio in the 1960s. He coined the term "gapers' block" (cited in print…
A popular viola riddle is: Q: What's the difference between a viola and a coffin? A: The coffin has the corpse on the inside. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993. Google…
"Hit the gym" is an expression meaning "go to the gym" that's not meant to be taken as a literal "hit," but there's a joke: "I hit the gym, but I drove…
Something that is a "piece of cake" is something that is easy or simple. There's a school joke: Q: Why did the boy eat his homework?A: Because his teacher told him it was a piece of…
A math joke (and a food joke) is: Q: What is the first derivative of a cow?A: Prime rib. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2004 and has been printed on many images. “Recipe for…
Entry in progress -- B.P. 22 March 1892, The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL), pg. 7:"I WILL." This Chicago Expression is Disturbing the Brethren of the Hub and New York.Boston
"If you're going to ride my ass, at least pull my hair and make me scream!" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many bumper stickers. The bumper sticker saying was cited on…