“Play building and loan” (joke)
There's an old "Building and Loan" joke: She: Let's play Building & Loan.He: OK. How do you play?She: You get out of the building and leave me alone. The joke has been cited…
“Diner: Is soup on the menu? Waiter: No, I wiped it off.”
An old restaurant joke about something "on the menu" is: Customer: "Is there any soup on the menu today?"Waiter: "There was, sir, but I just wiped it off." The joke…
Minnesota: Bread and Butter State (nickname)
Minnesota has been called the "Bread and Butter State" because of its wheat and dairy production. For the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York, in 1901, the state of Minnesota…
Wisconsin: America’s Dairyland (nickname)
The state of Wisconsin has long been known for its dairy industry. A 1924 newspaper ad for "Pabst Wonder Cheese" called Wisconsin "America's fairest dairyland." "Made…
St. Paul Sandwich
The St. Paul sandwich is a sandwich that contains egg. The original "St. Paul" sandwich dates to the 1890s, and a "St. Paul" sandwich (or "egg foo young" sandwich) has…
“Don’t be evil” (Google motto)
"Don't be evil" is the motto of Google, an American multinational technology company. Google engineer Amit Patel wrote the saying on whiteboards in 1999. In 2000, when the company…
Income Reduction Service (Internal Revenue Service or IRS nickname)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collects revenue for the United States federal government. The IRS taxes income, and the IRS nickname of "Income Reduction Service" has been used…
Utica: Half-Moon (cookie)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Other Utica foods include chicken riggies and jelly buns. Wikipedia: Black and white cookieHistory and difference from half-moonsThe exact origin of the black-and-white…
Utica: Jelly Bun
Entry in progress -- B.P. Other Utica foods include chicken riggies and half-moon cookies. Holland Farms Bakery & Deli (Yorkville, NY)Jelly Buns, Jelly Buns, Squishy whishy Jelly Buns, Holland…
Iowa: I Owe the World an Apology (backronym)
The "Iowa" state name comes from the Native American "Ioway" tribes, but some people give it a backronym (back acronym). ""I Owe the World an Apology" is an Iowa…
Iowa: Idiots Out Wandering Around (backronym)
The "Iowa" state name comes from the Native American "Ioway" tribes, but some people give it a backronym (back acronym). ""Idiots Out Walking/Wandering Around" is…
Rochester: Rottenchester (nickname)
The city of Rochester, in western New York (not Rochester, Minnesota), is sometimes given the unflattering nicknamed of "Rottenchester" (rotten + Rochester). 'Rottenchester" was…
Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes (nickname)
The country of Finland has long been known for its many lakes -- estimated to number over 187,000 lakes, and there is also a Finnish lake district. "Land of the thousand lakes" was a…
Syracuse: Sewercuse (nickname)
The city of Syracuse, New York -- also Syracuse University -- is sometimes given the unflattering nickname of "Sewercuse" (sewer + Syracuse). "In winter, it's Siberacuse, spring…
Poughkeepsie: Po-Town (nickname)
The city of Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess County, New York, often has its name written as "Po-town" or "Po'town." "Po-town" was cited in the Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal…
“Did you hear about the Italian chef? He pasta way”
It's one of the most popular of pasta puns: "Did you hear about the Italian chef? he pasta way." "Pasta way" was cited in a 1967 newspaper. "Did you hear about the…
“Why did the chef take his own life?”/“Because he lost the huile d’olive.”
"Huile d'olive" (French for "olive oil") sounds like "will to live," prompting the joke: Q: Why did the chef take his own life?A: Because he lost huile…
“My friend asked me if I wanted a frozen banana…” (joke)
Not everyone understands the concept of a frozen banana (a dessert on a stick). American stand-up comedian Mitch Hedberg (1968-2005) told this joke in his act by at least 1999: "My friend…
“Why does a Frenchman have only one egg in his omelet?” (joke)
"Un oeuf" (French for "one egg") sounds like "enough," prompting the pun: Q: Why does a Frenchman have only one egg in his omelet?A: Because one egg is un oeuf. The…
“Next time you order coffee at Starbucks tell them your name is Bueller, then leave the store”
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) is an American classic comedy film. The student, named Ferris Bueller, skips school, and the teacher calls out "Bueller? Bueller?" to an empty chair.…