“The high school music teacher told his students to read band books”
"Banned books" is sometimes punned as "band books." "Did John Philip Sousa read band books? #bannedbooks" was posted on Twitter on September 24, 2012. "The high…
Archive for 11/2017
“Does working for UPS make you a professional boxer?”
A joke about the term "professional boxer" is that it applies to someone who works at UPS (United Parcel Service). "Professional boxer...at the UPS store" was posted on Twitter…
“Dear Dairy: Today I failed another spelling test”
A spelling joke was posted on Twitter on February 23, 2014: "Dear dairy, I failed another spelling test today." "Dairy" is a common misspelling for "diary." "Dear…
“The high school music teacher told his students to read band books”
"Banned books" is sometimes punned as "band books." "Did John Philip Sousa read band books? #bannedbooks" was posted on Twitter on September 24, 2012. "The high…
Sodom by the Sea (Coney Island)
Coney Island has sometimes been called "Sodom by the Sea," in reference to the vices of the Biblical city of Sodom. The headline for the New York (NY) Times on October 15, 1893 was:…
Snake Hill Road (Richmond Hill Road, Staten Island)
A part of Richmond Hill Road (from LaTourette Golf Course to Arthur Kill Road and Historic Richmond Town) in Staten Island has been called "Snake Hill Road." The road has dangerous,…
“A calzone is the socially acceptable way for someone to eat a whole pizza”
A calzone has been called a folded pizza. "Why is it that if you eat a whole pizza you are criticized but if you eat a calzone, not s'much?" was posted on Twitter on August 14, 2009.…
“My brain has too many tabs open”
"My brain has too many tabs open" -- that is, a person (like a computer) is too busy with too much work -- is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on many images. "I feel…
“Vaccines cause adults” (pro-vaccination slogan)
"Vaccines cause adults" is a pro-vaccination slogan that has been printed on many images. The slogan is a response to the anti-vaccination slogan of "Vaccines cause autism."…
“What hired killer never goes to jail?”/“The exterminator.”
A riddle about a building exterminator is: Q: What hired killer never goes to jail?A: The exterminator. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976. Google BooksBiggest Riddle Book in the…
“The only use of pennies is to avoid getting more”
Many people hate pennies and believe them to be almost worthless. "The only reason I use pennies is to avoid getting more in change" was posted on Twitter on October 7, 2011. "The…
“I bake because punching people is frowned upon”
"I bake because punching people is frowned upon" is a baking saying that has been printed on many images. "I Bake Because Punching Is Frowned Upon" was posted on Twitter by Sian…
“We do not consent” (#wedonotconsent)
"We do not consent" (#wedonotconsent) is a popular anti-establishment slogan. "#WEDONOTCONSENT #TWEETCONGRESS #KILLBILL" was posted on Twitter on December 15, 2009.…
“Why did the bowling pins stop working?”/“Because they went on strike.”
A bowling riddle has been cited in print since at least 1984: Q: Why did the bowling pins lie down? A: Because they were on strike. A slightly different version was printed in 1997: Q: Why did the…
“Big Apple” answer on “Final Jeopardy!” (2009)
The etymology of "Big Apple" was used on the television game show Jeopardy! as a "Final Jeopardy!" question on July 1, 2009. The answer:"A 19th century gambling term…
“Guns don’t kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people”
"Guns don't kill people -- people kill people" has been a popular pro-gun slogan since 1959. A variation involving marital infidelity has been cited in print since 1984, when it was…
“By way of Canarsie” (Canarsie, Brooklyn)
To go somewhere "by way of Canarsie (Brooklyn)" is to go out of the way, or in a roundabout way. New York (NY) Post columnist Leonard Lyons (1906-1976) wrote in "The Lyons Dens"…
“Big Apple” explained in a movie (Barney’s Version film, 2010)
The origin of "Big Apple" was explained in the 2010 Canadian comedy-drama film Barney's Version, with a screenplay by Michael Konyves. This dialogue does not appear in the novel…
“What’s the best way to catch a fish?”/“Have someone throw it to you.”
A fishing riddle is: Q: What's the best way to catch a fish?A: Have someone throw it to you. The riddle was printed in many American newspapers in 1965. 27 June 1965, Indianapolis (IN) Star,…
Floss or Flossy (Canarsie, Brooklyn)
Canarsie, Brooklyn, is sometimes called "Floss" or "Flossy." The name comes from the rap song "Brooklyn" (2007) by Fabolous, which contains the lyrics "Canarsie…