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July 21, 2023
Food/Drink

“Why did the melon jump into the water?”/“Because it wanted to become a watermelon.”

A watermelon riddle originally involved a rockmelon (a term for "cantaloupe" used in Australia and New Zealand), but this was later replaced with "cantaloupe" or just…

October 29, 2016
Food/Drink

“Why did the monster eat a light bulb?”/“He wanted a light snack.”

A riddle about "having a light snack" is: Q: Why did the monster eat a light bulb?A: He wanted a light snack. "Why did the boy go to the lamp shop to eat his lunch? He wanted a light…

July 24, 2014
Food/Drink

“Why did the mushroom go to the party?”/“Because he was a fun-gi.”

A mushroom is the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. The following joke was cited in print in 1990: Q. Why was the mushroom invited to the party?A. Because he was a fun-guy. The joke is often…

March 2, 2017
Food/Drink

“Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?”/“It ran out of juice.”

An orange riddle is: Q: Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?A: It ran out juice. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1972. 2 September 1972, Cumberland (MD) News-Times,…

January 1, 2016
Food/Drink

“Why did the Oreo go to the dentist?”/“Because it lost its filling.”

The Oreo creme-filled cookie was first sold by the National Biscuit Company of New York City in 1912. A popular Oreo joke is: Q: Why did the Oreo go to the dentist?A: Because it lost its filling.…

March 4, 2018
Food/Drink

“Why did the parrot wear a raincoat?”/“Because she wanted to be a Polly unsaturated.”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Polyunsaturated fatPolyunsaturated fats are lipids in which the constituent hydrocarbon chain possesses two or more carbon–carbon double bonds.…

January 26, 2021
Food/Drink

“Why did the pickle stop being a contortionist?”/“It was too cucumbersome.”

"Cucumbersome" (cucumber + cumbersome) is a jocular, made-up word. "Why did the pickle stop being a contortionist? It was to cucumbersome" was posted on Twitter by Mystic…

November 25, 2015
Food/Drink

“Why did the pie go to the dentist?”/“To get a filling.”

A popular pie joke on National Pie Day (January 23), Pi Day (March 14) and Thanksgiving (November) is: Q: Why did he pie go to the dentist?A: To get a filling. The joke has been cited in print…

February 6, 2017
Food/Drink

“Why did the piece of cheese go to the gym?”/“To get shredded.”

People go to the gym to get ripped. A cheese riddle is: Q: Why did the piece of cheese go to the gym?A: To get shredded. The joke was posted on the website Pun of the Day and also was posted on…

November 6, 2016
Food/Drink

“Why did the pilgrim eat a candle?”/“He wanted a light snack.”

A riddle about "having a light snack" is: Q: Why did the monster eat a light bulb?A: He wanted a light snack. "Why did the boy go to the lamp shop to eat his lunch? He wanted a light…

September 21, 2017
Food/DrinkPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Why did the pirate send his hot dog back at Nathan’s?”/“Because it was a salty dog.”

A pirate riddle is: Q: Why did the pirate send his hot dog back at Nathan's?A: Because it was a salty dog! The joke was posted on PirateJokes.net on December 2, 2008. Wikipedia: Salty dogSalty…

November 24, 2016
Food/Drink

“Why did the police arrest the turkey?”/“They suspected it of fowl play.”

A Thanksgiving turkey riddle is: Q: Why did the police arrest the turkey?A: They suspected it of fowl play. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 2000. Google Groups:…

December 13, 2022
Food/Drink

“Why did the potato cough up blood?”/“Because it had tuber-culosis.”

Tuberculosis doesn't involve potatoes ("tubers"), but there are jokes. "Why was the potato concerned over its cough? Because it thought it had Tuber-culosis" was posted on…

July 21, 2023
Food/Drink

“Why did the rockmelon jump into the river?”/“He wanted to become a watermelon.”

A watermelon riddle originally involved a rockmelon (a term for "cantaloupe" used in Australia and New Zealand), but this was later replaced with "cantaloupe" or just…

August 2, 2018
Food/Drink

“Why did the rooster cross the road to KFC?”/“To see a chicken strip.”

Chicken strips are deep fried pieces of chicken meat. "Chicken strips" doesn't mean that chicken takes off its clothes (strips), but there are jokes. A "chicken strip club"…

May 23, 2020
Food/Drink

“Why did the sea monster eat five ships carrying potatoes?”/“No one can eat just one potato ship.”

“You can’t eat just one” ("Betcha can’t eat just one") is a popular slogan for Lay's potato chips. A riddle is: Q: Why did the sea monster eat five ships that were carrying…

April 18, 2009
Food/Drink

“Why did the skeleton go to the BBQ?”/“He needed some spare ribs!”

"Question: Why did the skeleton go to the barbecue? Answer: He needed some spare ribs!" This joke (cited in print since at least 2000) has appeared in many joke books, especially…

March 22, 2017
Food/Drink

“Why did the stoner put laxatives in weed brownies?”/“For shits and giggles.”

A pot brownie riddle is: Q: Why did the stoner put laxatives in the pot/weed brownies?A: For shits and giggles. "I think halal vendors put laxatives in the food for shits and giggles" was…

March 4, 2017
Food/Drink

“Why did the strawberry cross the road?”/“Because his mother was in a jam.”

A strawberry riddle is: Q: Why did the strawberry cross the road?A: Because his mother was in a jam. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1995 and has been printed on images. 10 July…

June 28, 2017
Food/Drink

“Why did the tamale go to the hospital?”/“Tamalito.”

A tamale riddle is: Q: Why did the tamale go to the hospital?A: Tamalito. "Porque ta malito" is Spanish for "because it's bad/sick." "I'll tell you a joke just to…

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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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