Fexit (federal + exit)
"Grexit" (Greece/Greek + exit) spawned many similar terms, such as "Fexit" (federal + exit). In March 2013, "Fexit" meant the Federal Reserve's exit from certain…
Archive for /P27420
Welfargee (welfare + refugee)
"Welfargee" (welfare + refugee) describes someone who comes from a third world country to a more developed country and lives off its welfare. "Welfargee" was cited in print in…
“Poor farmers grow crops, but good farmers grow soil”
"Poor farmers grow crops, but good farmers grow soil" is an adage of uncertain origin. "He (John Jeavons -- ed.) believes the goal is not simply to grow crops but to grow soil"…
Million Dollar Rain
A "million dollar rain" is a rain that helps crops (and makes farmers rich, although not necessarily by a million dollars). This rain occurs in late spring or in the summer, when the…
“A champion is someone who is willing to be uncomfortable” (“Be comfortable being uncomfortable”)
Several people have said that one should be "comfortable being uncomfortable." The book Setting Goals (1983) by John Renesch asked, " Are you willing to be uncomfortable (like any…
“My girlfriend fell in an ice cream store. She’s now a sore bae”
A pun on "sorbet" is: "My girlfriend fell in an ice cream store. She's now a sore bae." The "sore bae" joke has had many forms. "My girlfriend is mad that I…
“When I found out my microwave wasn’t waterproof, I was shocked”
A jocular one-liner about a microwave oven is: "When I found out my microwave wasn't waterproof, I was shocked." The "shocking" pun was cited on Twitter on May 21, 2012.…
“Tea is for mugs”
"Tea is for mugs" is a saying that has been printed on many mugs. "@GunstarCowboy no, tea is for mugs!" was cited on Twitter on September 3, 2009. The pun jokes of the…
“Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy”
A popular pun about cartoonists (from a hypothetical newspaper headline) is: "Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy." The joke was on the website Pun of the Day and posted on…
“The butcher who made seabird sausages took a tern for the wurst”
"The butcher who made seabird sausages took a tern for the wurst," according to a popular pun. "Tern for the wurst" has been printed on T-shirts. Associated Press writer Jay…
“My friend William changed his name to Lawrence, and that’s how a Bill becomes a Law”
"How a bill becomes a law" has been explained by the website Kids in the House. A 1976 Schoolhouse Rock song, "I'm Just a Bill," also explained the process. The site…
“How do you cook a crocodile?”/“In a ‘croc’ pot.”
Crockpots aren't for cooking crocodiles, but there are jokes. "JOHN ESTES wondering if alligator is cooked in a 'croc pot'" was printed in the Hanford (CA) Sentinel on…
“What’s the difference between a cow and the Holocaust?”
The Holocaust (Nazi Germany's crimes against Jews and others in the 1930s and 1940s) developed into an industry, with many charities, books and films. Some people have been accused of…
“Hello Brooklyn”
"Hello Brooklyn" is a popular saying the borough. There was a 1928 burlesque called "Hello, Brooklyn." "Adios Manhattan and hello Brooklyn" was printed in a 1986 book.…
“What’s the difference between 9/11 and a cow?”/“You can’t milk a cow for X years.”
The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were a national tragedy, but some have been accused of profiting (or "milking") the tragedy too much for personal…
“It’s not who you know, it’s whom you know”
"It's not what you know, but who you know" is an old saying. A jocular take on the saying is: "It's not who you know, it's whom you know." The "whom you…
“I missed the cosmetics exam. I had to do a makeup test”
When a student misses or fails an exam, he or she often has to take a "makeup test." It does not involve cosmetics, but there are several puns, such as this one from 2002: "The other…
“Archaeologist: someone whose career lies in ruins”
A popular archaeology pun is: "Daffynishion: Archaeologist — Someone whose career lies in ruins." The joke has been cited in print since at least 1963. Google BooksSeptember 1963,…
“My favorite position is CEO” (“A woman’s favorite position is CEO”)
"My favorite position is CEO" (or "A woman favorite position is CEO") is a jocular line that has been printed on many gift items, such as bumper stickers, T-shirts and coffee…
“How do construction workers party?”/“They raise the roof.”
To "raise the roof" means to show great enthusiasm, but it's taken literally in the pun: Q: How do construction workers party?A: They raise the roof. The joke was posed on the…