“How did you become a star?” (joke)
A popular joke about an actor/performer is: Q: How did you become a star?A: I started out in a gaseous state, and then I cooled. The joke has been credited to American television host and comedian…
DisAster Place or DisAstor Place (Astor Place Opera House)
Manhattan's Astor Place is named after John Jacob Astor (July 17, 1763 – March 29, 1848), then New York City's wealthiest resident. THe Astor Place Opera House was opened on November…
DisAster Place or DisAstor Place (Astor Place)
Manhattan's Astor Place is named after John Jacob Astor (July 17, 1763 – March 29, 1848), then New York City's wealthiest resident. THe Astor Place Opera House was opened on November…
“When does New Year’s Day come before Christmas?”/“Every year!”
First comes Christmas and then comes New Year's Eve, but a joke switches this up a bit: Q: When does New Year’s Day come before Christmas Day? A: Every year! The joke has been popular since…
“If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt”
American singer, actor and comedian Dean Martin (1917-1995) liked to drink and he liked to golf, and is credited with the popular quote: ' "If you drink, don't drive. Don't even…
“You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on”
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on" is a jocular line that dates to at least the early 1800s. "No man could be called drunk, so long as he could…
Remakequel (remake + prequel/sequel)
A "remakequel" is a story that is essentially a remake of another story, although it claims to be a prequel or a sequel to that original story. A "remakequel" can also be a…
“Life doesn’t imitate art. It imitates bad television”
"Art imitates life" is an old saying that dates back to at least ancient Greece. "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life" is from Oscar Wilde's 1889 essay,…
“Someone’s stollen my German Christmas cake”
"Stollen" is a German fruit bread, often served at Christmas. There are many puns with stollen and "stolen." "Thought of a new recipe for a cake with marzipan and sultanas.…
“Do you smell carrots?” (snowman joke)
A snowman usually has a carrot for a nose. A popular joke (cited in print since at least 2002) has two snowmen standing in a field. One snowman asks the other, "Do you smell carrots?" The…
“What’s the difference between boogers and broccoli?”/“Kids won’t eat broccoli.”
Children hate certain foods. A popular joke is: Q: What's the difference between boogers and broccoli?A: Kids won't eat broccoli. "What's the difference between Brussels sprouts…
“If you’re looking for morals in politics, you’re looking for bananas in the cheese department”
American actor, comedian and radio host Harry Shearer has been credited since 2008 for a political saying: "Democrats always like to brag that their guys are smarter than the opponents and…
Happy Warrior
English Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) wrote "Character of the Happy Warrior" in 1806, after the death of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (1758-1805). Many people in the…
“Some of my best friends are Jews”
"Some of my best friends are..." has been a popular meme for over 100 years. While the speaker is not that type of person, he or she has friends of that type. Therefore, any criticism…
“How do you steam clams?”/“Make fun of their religion.”
The word "steam" can mean "to anger" and a person can have a "clammy" personality, as in the joke: Q: How do you steam clams?A: Make fun of their religion. "Very…
Pink Tax (Woman Tax)
"Pink tax" (or "woman tax" or "women's tax") is a term that means that women pay more for comparable products and services than men pay for them. For example, a…
“If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?”
"If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?" is a jocular one-liner that has been printed on GIFs. Leonard Lyons (1906-1976) wrote in his syndicated "The Lyons…
Call Girl
"Call girls" were, originally, the telephone operators (mostly women) who connected calls. "Call girl" now refers to a sex worker who is available on call. The term "call…
“Three logicians walk into a bar…” (bar joke)
"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A popular logic joke is: The bartender says: “Would any of you guys like a drink?”The…
“If number two pencils are so popular, why are they still number two?”
No. 2 pencils are often required on standardized tests. The name "No. 2" refers to the graphite grading scale. A popular joke has been cited in print since at least 1998: "If a…