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May 23, 2022
Education/Schools

“What happens if the average number of bullies at a school goes up?”/“The mean increases.”

"What happens if the average number of bullies at a school goes up? The mean increases" was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes on September 7, 2018. The word "mean" means…

April 15, 2021
Education/Schools

“What has 4 letters, sometimes has 9 letters, and never has 5 letters”

"What has 4 letters, sometimes has 9 letters, and never has 5 letters" is a riddle -- until it's figured out that it is a statement. The word "what" has four letters, the…

April 15, 2021
Education/Schools

“What has a foot, but no leg?”/“A ruler.”

A metric riddle is: Q: What has a foot, but no leg?A: A ruler. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 2014. TwitterAgustina@OlmosA_@Calum5SOScalum hood from 5sos what has a footbut no…

June 12, 2020
Education/Schools

“What has college taught you?”/“That no matter how much sleep I get I’ll always be tired.”

College is a lot of work. "I've learned in college that no matter how much sleep I get I'll always be tired the next day, so might as well stay up and her shit done" was posted…

March 18, 2018
Education/Schools

“What idiot called it a paternity test and not a pop quiz?”

"Is a paternity test a pop quiz?" is a jocular question that was asked on the newsgroup Google Groups: alt.callahans on July 29, 1992. "Pop quiz — paternity test" was…

December 6, 2016
Education/Schools

“What if algebra teachers are really pirates and they are using us to find ‘X’?”

"What if algebra teachers are really pirates and they are using us to find 'X' so they can find the treasure?" is a math joke that has been printed on many images. The joke was…

December 4, 2020
Education/Schools

“What if there were no hypothetical questions?”

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "What if there were no hypothetical questions?" was printed in the New…

March 29, 2018
Education/Schools

“What is a math teacher’s favorite sum?”/“Summer.”

A math riddle is: Q: What is a math teacher's favorite sum?A: Summer. That is, when there is no school (summer). The joke was posted on Twitter on February 29, 2012. Twitter Kevin “K-Ship”…

February 14, 2021
Education/Schools

“What is a seal’s favorite subject in school?”/“Art art art!”

A seal riddle was posted on Twitter by Kimberly Smith on October 27, 2010: Q: What is a seal's favorite subject in school?A: Art art! "What is a seals favourite subject? 'art,…

August 31, 2017
Education/Schools

“What is a snake’s favorite subject at school?”/“Hiss-tory.”

A snake riddle is: Q: What is a snake's favorite subject at school?A: Hiss-tory. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1990. 14 November 1990, Lansing (MI) State Journal, pg. 8E,…

October 20, 2016
Education/Schools

“What is a witch’s favorite subject in school?”/“Spelling.”

A witch riddle included in many Halloween joke collections is: Q: What is a witch's favorite subject in school?A: Spelling. The joke appears to have been included in the book Witches,…

December 29, 2017
Education/Schools

“What is an astronomer?”/“A night watchman with a college education.”

If an astronomer watches the night skies, does that make him a night watchman? A riddle has been cited in print since at least 1986: Q: What is an astronomer?A: A night watchman with a college…

January 6, 2017
Education/Schools

“What is black when it is clean and white when it is dirty?”/“A blackboard.”

A popular school riddle is: Q: What is black when it is clean and white when it is dirty?A: A blackboard. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1939. 8 July 1939, Wilmington (DE)…

December 22, 2017
Education/Schools

“What is the difference between a fisherman and a lazy student?” (riddle)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokesDifferenceRobert Nykvist3/2/95(...)17. What is the difference between a fisherman and a lazy student?The fisherman baits his hooks.The…

January 1, 2016
Education/Schools

“What is the difference between an engineer and a school teacher?” (riddle)

A popular pun was cited in many newspapers in 1850: "What is the difference between a schoolmaster and an engine driver? -- One trains the mind, and the other minds the train!"…

January 26, 2017
Education/Schools

“What is the king of the classroom?”/“The ruler.”

A riddle about an object found in schools is: Q: What/Who is king of the classroom?A: The ruler. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 2005. 2 March 2005, Los Angeles (CA) Times,…

September 19, 2019
Education/Schools

“What is the least spoken language in the world?”/“Sign language.”

A language riddle has been printed on many images: Q: What is the least spoken language in the world?A: Sign language. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2010. Twitter…

October 8, 2020
Education/Schools

“What is the most expensive video-streaming service at this time?”/“College.”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic caused many colleges to switch to remote learning. A riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on October 7, 2020: Q: What is the most expensive video-streaming…

November 14, 2025
Banking/Finance/InsuranceEducation/SchoolsWork/Businesses

“What is the strangest thing you’ve done for cash?”/“I took out a loan to go to school so I could get a job to pay off my school loans.”

School loans can feel like years of poverty. "I’m so glad I went to school and studied hard so I could get a good job and pay off my student loans and 10 years later...still feel poor…

April 5, 2018
Education/Schools

“What kind of ants are very learned?”/“Pedants.”

An ant riddle is: Q: What kind of ants are very learned?A: Pedants. The "pedant" pun has been cited in print since at least 1999. Google BooksThe Silly Little Book of Animal JokesBy…

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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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