Rochester: Aqueduct City (nickname)
The city of Rochester, New York, saw its fortunes rise with the 1823 completion of the Genesee River Aqueduct of the Erie Canal. Rochester was called the "Aqueduct City" by at least 1866.…
Archive for 01/2016
Metropolis of America
"Metropolis” (from the Greek word polis for “city") means “a large city” and is not a city nickname peculiar to New York City. In the 1700s, Philadelphia (and sometimes Boston)…
Uncle Sam’s Pocket Handkerchief (Delaware nickname)
Delaware was nicknamed "Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief" in the 1800s because of the small size of the state. "Uncle Sam's pocket among the peaches (Delaware)" was…
“I tried using a colander to view the eclipse. I think I’ve strained my eyes”
A colander is a kitchen utensil that has holes to drain foods. The holes can be looked through, but a colander is not a telescope. A joke became popular on Sickipedia in March 2015: "I tried…
“They finally published my book about sex with herbs. It’s about f*cking thyme!”
"Thyme," an herb, has had many puns with the word "time." A book titled It's About Thyme: An Herb Manual and Cookbook of Herb and Non-Herb Recipes was published in 1988.…
“He who casts the first stone…isn’t coming fishing again”
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" is from the New Testament John 8:7. "Cast" is also a fishing term. "He who casts the first stone...really…
“Rap is 75% crap”
"Rap" is a three-letter word and is 75% of the four-letter word "crap." "Rap is 75% (of) crap" is said by some rap detractors. "Also thinks rap is 75% crap"…
New York Values
Ted Cruz, the U.S. Senator from Texas, and Donald Trump, the New York City developer, had a debate on "New York values" in January 2016, when they were contending for the Republican…
“I don’t trust new cafes. They fill me with uncertain tea”
A popular "tea" pun is: "I don't trust new cafes. They fill me with uncertain tea." The joke was cited on Twitter on July 24, 2015. SickipediaI don't trust new…
“A golf ball is a golf ball, no matter how you putt it”
"Putt" and "put" is the source of the golf pun: "A golf ball is a golf ball, no matter how you putt it." The joke has been cited in print since at least 1939. The line…
“I ordered tennis balls on the internet, but the site crashed. Must be problems with the server”
Websites often have a problem with a "server," providing the basis of tennis puns. "Just tried to get on the British Tennis Association's website but they're having…
“Give me a T” (tea joke)
"T" and "tea" sound the same. A "Give me a T" joke -- not, as it turns out, a letter cheer -- has been cited in print since at least October 2015. Sickipedia"Give…
“I was in a restaurant last night and the waiter asked me to cover his shift” (joke)
The term "wait a minute" doesn't literally mean that, but there's a joke: "I was in a restaurant last night and the waiter asked me to cover his shift for 60 seconds. I…
“Who beats his chest and swings from Christmas cake to Christmas cake?”/“Tarzipan.”
"Tarzipan" is a portmanteau of "marzipan" (a confection popular at Christmas) and "Tarzan" (a man of the jungle). A joke was cited in 1978: Q: What swings about a…
Catskill Mountains: “Catskill Mountains? Don’t cats kill mice?”
New York's Catskill Mountains name has been the subject of puns. "Catskill ice" was sold in New York City, but it was reported in 1855 that the letter "M" was being written…
“My fellow Americans”
"My fellow Americans" is often how a politician (such as a president or a senator) addresses the people of the United States. "My fellow Americans" has been cited in print since…
“I finally quit drinking for good. Now I drink for evil”
"I finally quit drinking for good. Now I drink for evil" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "Now he'll only drink for EVIL. MT @KatMcKinley Randy Travis…
“When the cannibal came late for dinner, they gave him the cold shoulder”
"Cold shoulder" originally meant cold cuts of meat -- not literally a person's shoulder -- but there's a popular cannibal joke: "What did the cannibal get when he was late…
“Give me golf clubs, fresh air, and a beautiful partner”
American comedian and actor Jack Benny (1894-1974) was has been quoted with this golf gem (cited in print since at least 1959): "Give me my golf clubs, the fresh air and a beautiful partner,…
“The boat store held a paddle sale. It was quite an oar deal”
"Oar-Deal" (a pun on "ordeal") is a registered trademark since 1954 for an oar protector. A joke was cited on Twitter on September 28, 2012: "There was a big paddle sale at…