“The phrase ‘Built to stay free’ is an anagram of what monument?” (riddle)
"Built to stay free" is an anagram of "Statue of Liberty." New York (NY) Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz explained on NPR's Weekend All Things Conisdered in June…
Archive for 08/2016
“How is a drum solo like a sneeze?” (ioke)
There have been make jokes about drummers. A popular riddle is: Q: How is a drum solo like a sneeze?A: You can tell it's coming, but you can't do anything about it. The joke has been…
“What should you say when the Statue of Liberty sneezes?”/“God bless America.”
A popular riddle about the Statue of Liberty is: Q: What should you say when the Statue of Liberty sneezes?A: God bless America. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1986. Wikipedia:…
Human Google (New York Public Library help desk nickname)
The New York Public Library has an "Ask NYPL" help line staffed by librarians to answer queries. The Google search engine now answers most people's queries, but Ask NYPL still exists…
“Will—A dead giveaway”
A "dead giveaway" is something that reveals a fact or an intention. A pun on the "dead giveaway" term was cited in print in 1908: "A man's last will is a dead…
Instagirl (Instagram + girl)
"Instagirl" (Instagram + girl) is a female model who becomes famous through social media, especially selfie photos on Instagram. The cover of Vogue magazine in August 2014 used the term…
Instagirl (Instagram + girl)
"Instagirl" (Instagram + girl) is a female model who becomes famous through social media, especially selfie photos on Instagram. The cover of Vogue magazine in August 2014 used the term…
“Only the paranoid survive” (internet adage)
"Only the paranoid survive" was the motto of Andrew Grove (1936-2016), founder of Intel Corporation. Grove believed that Intel should stay "paranoid" and never get complacent.…
“An idea isn’t responsible for the people who believe in it”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Don MarquisDonald Robert Perry Marquis (/ˈmɑːrkwɪs/ mar-kwis; July 29, 1878 in Walnut, Illinois – December 29, 1937 in New York City) was a humorist,…
“When a politician does get an idea he usually gets it wrong”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Don MarquisDonald Robert Perry Marquis (/ˈmɑːrkwɪs/ mar-kwis; July 29, 1878 in Walnut, Illinois – December 29, 1937 in New York City) was a humorist,…
“When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: ‘Whose?’”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Don MarquisDonald Robert Perry Marquis (/ˈmɑːrkwɪs/ mar-kwis; July 29, 1878 in Walnut, Illinois – December 29, 1937 in New York City) was a humorist,…
“Ideas pull the trigger, but instinct loads the gun”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Don MarquisDonald Robert Perry Marquis (/ˈmɑːrkwɪs/ mar-kwis; July 29, 1878 in Walnut, Illinois – December 29, 1937 in New York City) was a humorist,…
“Why do cows go to New York City?”/“To see the moosicals.”
A cow riddle about New York City is: Q: Why do cows go to New York CIty?A: To see the moosicals. "Q: What type of moo-vie do cows like best? A: Moo-sicals" was cited in 1994. "What…
“Why did the man throw a clock out the window?”/“To see time fly.”
"Time flies" means that time passes quickly, but there's a popular riddle: Q: Why did the man throw a clock out the window?A: He wanted to see time fly. The joke has been cited in…
Generation Snowflake
"Generation Snowflake" refers to young people -- especially college students -- who can't handle the real world. They are like a "snowflake" -- unique and fragile. Members…
“You kill vegetarian vampires with a steak to the heart”
A vampire is killed by a stake to the heart. There's a vegetarian version in the riddle: Q: How do you kill a vegetarian vampire?A: Drive a steak through his heart. The joke was cited in the…
“What kind of apple has a short temper?”/“A crab apple.”
Do crab apples really crabby? A pun on the "crab apple" name is: Q: What kind of apple has a short temper?A: A crab apple. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976. Google…
“Why did the banana go to the doctor?”/“It wasn’t peeling well.”
A banana pun is: Q: Why did the banana go to the doctor?A: It wasn't peeling well. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1990. Google BooksSuper Sick Jokes and RiddlesBy Joseph…
“We got both kinds of music—country and western”
"Country" music used to be called "country and western" music. The movie The Blues Brothers (1980) popularized the joke: Elwood: What kind of music do you usually have…
“Music is like candy—you throw away the rappers”
"Music is like candy -- you throw away the rappers" is a jocular line that has been printed on many images. (Candy has "wrappers.") "Music is like candy; Throw out the…