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July 16, 2019
Education/Schools

“The person who would proof read Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi”

The Nazi Party and its leader, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), are well known. "The Soup Nazi" episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld (original airdate on November 2, 1995) made the term…

March 14, 2019
Education/Schools

“The problem with math puns is that calculus jokes are derivative, trig jokes are too graphic…”

Several math puns are often added -- a pun! -- together into one big math joke. "I'd claim to be original but pretty much all my calculus jokes are derivative" was posted on Twitter…

December 13, 2025
Education/SchoolsMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“The purpose of academia is to open up new Chrome tabs until you die”

People who do computer research tend to open very many browser tabs. This was posted on X/Twitter by Neil Renic on November 30, 2025, and it received over 55,000 likes: "The purpose of…

July 3, 2023
Education/Schools

“The road to hell is paved with Ivy League degrees”

"The road to hell is paved with Ivy League degrees" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The usual saying is, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The saying…

May 30, 2015
Education/Schools

“The school board wishes you a speedy recovery, by a vote of 4-3”

Country school boards (or athletic boards) can be divisive over even simple things. A popular joke is told of an athletic board (or a school board) sending a losing football coach (or an assistant…

January 25, 2017
Education/Schools

“The tassel’s worth the hassle”

"The tassel's worth the hassle" is an education saying that has been printed on many images. The saying means that graduation (of which the tassel is a symbol) is worth all the…

May 10, 2019
Education/Schools

“The trouble with class reunions is that old flames have become even older”

"The trouble with class reunions is that old flames have become even older" is a saying that has been printed on many images. American columnist Doug Larson (1926-2017) wrote the line in…

May 9, 2019
Education/Schools

“The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate”

"The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate" is a saying that has been printed on many images. American newspaper columnist Doug Larson (1926-2017) wrote this in…

April 5, 2025
Education/SchoolsGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthSports/Games

“The weakest men compete with girls. The weakest minds celebrate it”

"The weakest men compete with girls. The weakest minds celebrate it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying refers to trans women participating in women’s sporting…

October 11, 2015
Education/Schools

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”

Newspaper columnist Sydney J. Harris wrote in August 1978: "Most people are 'mirrors,' merely reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are 'windows,' bringing…

August 4, 2019
Education/Schools

“The word ‘vocabulary’ isn’t even in my —”

"The word 'vocabulary' isn't even in my...my...uh, what do you call it..." is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Jordan Carroll on February 5, 2012. "The word…

August 4, 2019
Education/Schools

“The word ‘vocabulary’ isn’t even in my stock of words”

"The word 'vocabulary' isn't even in my...my...uh, what do you call it..." is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Jordan Carroll on February 5, 2012. "The word…

March 24, 2018
Education/Schools

“There are some things you can only learn in a storm”

"There are some things you can only learn in a storm" -- that is, learn through difficulties -- is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Some stuff you can't learn on…

October 23, 2020
Education/Schools

“There are things we are taught to accept without question…”

"There are things we are taught to accept without question. Those are the things that need questioned most of all" is a saying that has been printed on an image. The saying was posted on…

May 16, 2012
Education/Schools

“There are three good reasons to be a teacher: June, July and August”

"There are three good reasons to be a teacher: June, July and August" is an old joke about the teaching profession, perhaps outdated for teachers who work in June. "Three good…

April 10, 2021
Education/Schools

“There are three kinds of mathematician: those who can count and those who can’t”

"There are three types of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can't" is a joke that has been printed on many images. "'There are three kinds of people:…

April 10, 2021
Education/Schools

“There are three types of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can’t”

"There are three types of people in the world: Those who can count and those who can't" is a joke that has been printed on many images. "'There are three kinds of people:…

May 1, 2023
Education/Schools

“There is a self depreciation course starting at my college next term. I’ve already put myself down”

"I put myself down (for a college course)" means to sign up for a course. It doesn't mean literally putting one's self down, but there are jokes. "There is a self…

June 22, 2020
Education/Schools

“There is no ‘I’ in stupidity”

"There is no 'I' in stupidity" is a joke that has been printed on an image. "There is no 'I' in stupidity" was posted on Twitter on May 30, 2008. The joke a…

May 29, 2013
Education/Schools

“There is no back row” (online classroom adage)

"There is no back row" is an online classroom adage. In a physical classroom, students can sit in the back row, where they are less likely to have eye contact and be called upon by the…

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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.

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