The Big Apple
About Archives Categories Index Search
About Archives Categories Index Search

November 2, 2019
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How did the Eskimo build his house?”/“Igloo-d it together.”

"Igloo" can sound like the words "he glue." A joke was printed in the book The Father Christmas: It's a Blooming Terrible Joke Book (1994): "Have you heard about the…

June 25, 2016
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“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…

January 3, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do mountains hear?”/“With mountaineers.”

A mountain riddle is: Q: How do mountains hear?A: With mountaineers (mountain ears). The joke was published in Biggest Riddle Book in the World (1976) by Joseph Rosenbloom. “How do mountains…

January 3, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do mountains see?”/“They peak.”

A mountain riddle is: Q: How do mountains see?A: They peak (peek). The joke was posted on the website PunoftheDay.com on July 1, 2015. “How do mountains hear?"/"With mountaineers"…

January 3, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do mountains stay warm?”/“Snowcaps.”

A mountain riddle is: Q: How do mountains stay warm?A: Snowcaps. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2015. “How do mountains hear?"/"With mountaineers" and “How do…

July 8, 2019
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you break into a house?”/“Intruder window.”

"Intruder window" is an old joke for "in troo der window" or "in through the window." The joke ("he climbed intruder window") might have originated in the…

April 17, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you get in contact with a Greek architect?”/“You column.”

Greek architecture is known for its Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns. "Column" sounds like "call him" or "call 'em." A riddle was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes…

November 3, 2018
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you get rid of a fat ghost in a house?”/“You exercise it.”

There are many "exercise" and "exorcise" puns. "We had a fat ghost haunting our house so I got our local gym instructor to exercise him" was posted on Twitter by Matt…

October 18, 2017
Buildings/Housing/ParksPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“How do you keep a dog from barking in your front yard?”/“Put him in your back yard.”

A dog riddle is: Q: How do you keep a dog from barking in your front yard? A: Put him in your back yard. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1991. “How do you stop a dog from barking…

December 3, 2017
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you know when Santa is in the room?”/“You can sense his presents.”

A Christmas riddle is: Q: How do you know when Santa is in the room?A: You can sense his presents (presence). The joke has been cited in print since at least 2010. Twitter Seth Caddell‏…

January 9, 2017
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you make a Venetian blind?”/“Poke him in the eye.”

The term "Venetian blind" (a type of window blind) is used in a classic riddle: Q: How do you make a Venetian blind?A: Poke him in the eye. The joke has been cited in print since at least…

October 18, 2017
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you stop a dog from barking in the back yard?”/“Put it in the front yard.”

A dog riddle is: Q: Who do you stop a dog from barking in the back yard?A: Put it in the front yard. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1983. “How do you keep a dog from barking in…

January 10, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you tell a male door from a female door?”/“One’s got a ding-dong, the other has knockers.”

A door riddle (containing sex slang) is: Q: How do you tell a male door from a female door? A: One's got a ding-dong, the other has knockers. The joke was posted on Twitter by Aman on…

October 27, 2016
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How do you unlock a haunted house?”/“With a skeleton key.”

A skeleton key is a master key that opens many doors. "Now I know how ghosts get into haunted houses. They use skeleton keys!" was printed in the Washington (DC) Post on November 28,…

August 24, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How does a kaiju find a home?”/“Through Godzillow.”

Godzilla is a famous fictional monster in Japanese films who often destroys houses. Zillow is an American online real estate marketplace company. There is no "Godzillow," but there are…

May 18, 2016
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How many ants are needed to fill an apartment?”/“Tenants.”

"Tenants" is a word that sets up the obvious joke: Q: How many ants are needed to fill an apartment?A: Ten ants (tenants). "How many ants make a landlord? 10 ants (tenants)" was…

January 10, 2018
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How many divorced men does it take to change a light bulb?” (riddle)

A popular "lightbulb joke" about divorced men is: Q: How many divorced men does it take to change a light bulb? A: Who cares? They never get the house anyway. This version was posted on…

November 29, 2017
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How much did Santa’s sleigh cost?”/“Nothing, it was on the house.”

A Christmas riddle is: Q: How much did Santa's sleigh cost?A: Nothing, it was on the house. "On the house" means "free." The joke was posted on Twitter on December 3, 2011,…

July 30, 2018
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“How to fall down stairs” (a step-by-step guide)

"spoken-not-written: how to fall down the stairs: a step by step guide by me. http://tmblr.co/Z26_txpZCtlO" was posted on Twitter on July 13, 2013. When people fall down the stairs, they…

December 7, 2024
Buildings/Housing/ParksHolidays/Events/Parades

“Hung my Christmas lights on the house across the street so I can see them”

"Hung my Christmas lights on the house across the street so I can see them" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was posted on X/Twitter by Just Bill on…

First
Previous
10 11 12 13 14
Next
Last

About the Website and Editor

BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

Read more About the Website and Editor
About
Privacy Policy
RSS

© 2026 Barry Popik. All rights reserved.