“Cut up like boarding house pie” (many small pieces)
A boarding house usually has many boarders; boarding house pie is cut in many small slices so that each boarder has a piece. Anything that is cut many times into small pieces is said to be…
Archive for 08/2016
“Only angry people win football games”
University of Texas head football coach Darrell Royal (1924-2012) was quoted in August 1966: "Trends are bunk. Only angry people win football games." Royal was talking about football…
Newsie (newspaper seller)
Many children living in cities in the 1800s sold newspapers and shined shoes; they were called "newsies" and "shiners." The term "newsboy" -- they were almost…
Healther
The political term "healther" follows similar terms, such as "truther" (9/11 truth movement follower) and "birther" (presidential citizenship skeptic).…
“They cut us up like boarding house pie. And that’s real small pieces”
A boarding house usually has many boarders; boarding house pie is cut in many small slices so that each boarder has a piece. Anything that is cut many times into small pieces is said to be…
“Only angry people win football games”
University of Texas head football coach Darrell Royal (1924-2012) was quoted in August 1966: "Trends are bunk. Only angry people win football games." Royal was talking about football…
“If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn’t eat ‘em”
"If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn’t eat ‘em" ("If worms had machine guns, birds wouldn't eat them") is a saying of unknown origin. "If worms had machine…
“As crooked as Pearl Street”
"As crooked as Pearl Street" was a pet phrase of William S. Devery (1854-1919), a New York City police chief who directed the language to others. "He is more crooked than Pearl…
“Why is 6 afraid of 7?”/“Because 7 is a registered 6 offender”
A children’s number riddle is: Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7? A: Because 7 8 (ate) 9. A popular variation is: Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7?A: Because 7 is a registered 6 offender. "Why is 6 afraid of…
“I like my women like I like my coffee. Ground up and in the freezer”
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
“I like my coffee like I like my women. In a plastic cup”
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
“I like my coffee like I like my women. I don’t like coffee”
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
Gapers’ Block
Patrolman Irving Francis ("Irv") Hayden provided rush hour traffic reports on Chicago's WGN radio in the 1960s. He coined the term "gapers' block" (cited in print…
“I like my coffee like my women. Without a penis” (anti-joke)
"I like my women like I like my coffee" is a meme that has been used on many images. "A Negro comedian pulled this one: 'I like my coffee strong and black -- the same way I like…
“What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?”/“The Holocaust.”
A popular apple joke is: "What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm!" "Finding half a worm" implies that one has eaten the other half. The joke…
“Chicken in the car and the car won’t go” (Chicago spelling rhyme)
"A chicken in the car and the car won't go, that's the way to spell Chicago" is a popular Chicago rhyme that has been cited in print since at least 1926. The children's…
“Y” (Chicago Municipal Device)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Wolf Point, ChicagoWolf Point is the location at the confluence of the North, South and Main Branches of the Chicago River in the present day Near North Side,…
Gapers’ Block
Patrolman Irving Francis ("Irv") Hayden provided rush hour traffic reports on Chicago's WGN radio in the 1960s. He coined the term "gapers' block" (cited in print…
“What’s the difference between a viola and a coffin?” (joke)
A popular viola riddle is: Q: What's the difference between a viola and a coffin? A: The coffin has the corpse on the inside. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993. Google…
“I hit the gym, but I drove away because I don’t have car insurance”
"Hit the gym" is an expression meaning "go to the gym" that's not meant to be taken as a literal "hit," but there's a joke: "I hit the gym, but I drove…