Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
A joke about salt and pepper shskers is: Q: What did the salt say to the pepper?A: Hey, what's shaking? The food joke has been cited in print since at least 1970. “What did the salt say to…
A popular joke illustrates a man's love for sports: "Complained the wife: 'You love football more than you love me.' Replied the husband: 'Yeah, but I love you more than I…
Chris Powell, Secretary/Treasurer of the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA), gave a speech titled "There are no markets anymore, just interventions" in April 2008. Powell said about…
U.S. President George W. Bush supposedly said to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at a G8 Summit in July 2002: "The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for…
"Rain" and "reign" lead to an obvious pun: Q: What do you call dangerous precipitation?A: A rain of terror. The joke has been cited on Twitter since September 12, 2013.…
A "dumb blonde" joke that involves employment is: Q: Why was the blonde late for work?A: She was stranded on the broken escalator. "Why was the stupid man late for work? The…
American novelist and journalist Edgar Watson Howe (1853-1937) wrote as one of his "Country Town Sayings" in 1911: "When a man says money can do anything, that settles it: He…
A typical restaurant question can have a jocular answer: Waitress: Do you have any questions about the menu?Diner: Yes. What kind of font is this? The joke was popularized by American actor Rainn…
"Lactose" sounds like "lack toes," prompting the pun: Q: Why do cows have hooves instead of feet?A: Because they lactose. “Why do cows have hooves? Because they lactose"…
Worms are sometimes found inside apples. There's a joke: Q: What did one worm say to the other?A: I'm moving to the Big Apple! The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997. Google…
"Cherry pop" can mean a cherry soda, but it also has a sexual meaning. An old joke is: Q: Who made the first soft drink? A: Adam -- he made Eve's cherry pop. The joke was popular by…
The Indian Point Energy Center at Buchanan, New York, has frequently been called a "Chernobyl on the Hudson (River)." The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukraine had a disaster in…
A baseball "Subway Series" is when a New York National League team (such as the New York Mets, but also formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants) plays the New York American…
A baseball "Subway Series" is when a New York National League team (such as the New York Mets, but also formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants) plays the New York American…
A joke about English teachers is: "Did you hear about the English teacher who went to jail? She got a full sentence." The pun was cited on Twitter on August 5, 2013. “I wanted to marry…
"Don't/Never let yesterday take/use up too much of today" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today" was included…
American humorist and illustrator Don Herold (1889-1966) was quoted in Life magazine in January 19, 1922: "There is more sophistication and less sense in New York than anywhere else on the…
"Colored people's time" (a later time than scheduled) is often regarded offensive slang, deriding black people as lazy. For example, if church is scheduled to start at noon, it might…
Chicken caesar salad has a joke: Q: What do you call a chicken staring at lettuce?A: Chicken sees a salad (chicken caesar salad). "What did the chicken say to the farmer about his lettuce…
Gilbert Millstein (1915-1999) wrote about Manhattan's famed French restaurant Lutèce (at 249 East 50th Street from 1961 to 2004) in Esquire magazine in January 1962: "He (founder Andre…