Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.
Irish stew is a classic Irish dish, but there are many ways it can be made. Some recipes include Guinness stout. A joke Irish stew recipe is: "Get some meat, some potatoes and a lot of…
An old bar/restaurant joke is: Customer: “Do you serve women at this bar?” Bartender: “No, sir, you have to bring your own.” The joke possibly dates to 1936 (the Google Books date might be…
Brooklyn-born comedian Joan Rivers (1933-2014) -- no fan of exercise -- said in 1988: "I don't work out. If God wanted us to bend over, He'd put diamonds on the floor." The…
American comedian and actor George Gobel (1919-1991) hosted Light's Diamond Jubilee, a two-hour TV special that aired on October 24, 1954 on all four U.S. television networks of the time…
A popular St. Patrick's Day joke is: Q: Why can't you borrow money from a leprechaun?A: Because they're always a little short. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1996.…
A popular St. Patrick's Day joke is: Q: What's Irish and sits in the back yard?A: Paddy O'Furniture (patio furniture). The jocular Irish name "Paddy/Patti/Patty…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A version of the joke for web developers is: "A DBA (database administrator) walks…
"Avogadro's number" sounds like "avocado's number," prompting the math joke: Q: How many guacs are in a bowl of guacamole?A: Avocado's number. The pun was cite in…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A Roman numeral joke is: "A Roman walks into a bar, holds up two fingers, and says,…
Entry in progress -- B.P. BuzzFeedThis NYC Restaurant Created The Most Insane Milkshakes You’ll Ever EatIt’s time to treat yourself — you deserve it.posted on Jan. 18, 2016, at 1:04…
"Bensonhurster" is the name of an inhabitant of Bensonhurst, in the borough of Brooklyn. "Bensonhursters" was cited in the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle in 1893. Wikipedia:…
"Glou glou" is French for "glug glug." A "glou glou wine" is a wine that can be consumer easily in large quantities. "Mussollini's favorite wine glou glou…
"Bank robbers steal, then run. Politicians run (for office), then steal." This political saying does not appear to have a known origin. "Professional robbers steal and run. Most…
"Yaptown" (or "yap town") is a town full of "yaps," or fools. "The theater-goers of Jayville and Yaptown" was cited i print in 1889. Many cities had been…
"If school isn't a place to sleep, then home isn't a place to study" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "If the school is not a place to sleep so the…
"Glou glou" is French for "glug glug." A "glou glou wine" is a wine that can be consumer easily in large quantities. "Mussollini's favorite wine glou glou…
New York City has been the host of Full Figured Fashion Week since the 2000s. "Oscar" (Academy Award) has sometimes been used to describe a special event in other industries. Full Figured…
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A classic joke involves a man who walks into a bar, and he hears a voice say, "Nice…
"Life is just a bowl of cherries" is an old saying. A soup version is: "Life is like a bowl of soup. You only get blown if you are hot." The jocular saying has been printed on…
Stilton cheese (from the UK) is not related to the Hilton hotel change, but there's a cheese joke: Q: What hotel do mice stay in?A: The Stilton. The joke was cited on Twitter on January 11,…