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April 9, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did Princess Leia contract coronavirus?”/“Because she went to woo Han.”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic bean in Wuhan, China. A Star Wars pun became popular. "I’m so afraid of Coronavirus that I won’t even watch Princess Leia woo Han" was posted on…

October 15, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the Canadian cross the road?”/“To get to the middle.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?" is a joke cited in print since at least 1847. "Why did the Canadian cross the road? To get to the middle," a Toronto entrepreneur said in…

October 27, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why did the cow cross the road?”/“To go to the Feminists Convention.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A (politically incorrect) cow version is: Q: Why did the cow cross…

September 16, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Why did the dog go to court?”/“Because he got a barking ticket.”

People get parking tickets, and dogs get...barking tickets? A riddle has been cited in print since at least 1975: Q: Why did the dog go to court?A: Because he got a barking ticket. 6 July 1975,…

October 30, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the game warden arrest the ghost?”/“He didn’t have a haunting license.”

"Haunting license" sounds a little like "hunting license." "Darn it, I forgot my haunting license!" was credited to American humorist Corey Ford (1902-1969).…

October 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the ghost go to the doctor?”/“To get a boo-ster shot.”

Several ghost puns (popular at Halloween) involve a "booster" ("boo-ster"). "Q: What kind of seat does a baby ghost sit in? A: A booster seat" was printed in the…

January 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why did the libertarian cross the road?”/“Doesn’t matter. Was a personal choice not subject to government approval or majority rule.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A libertarian version is: Q: Why did the libertarian cross the road?…

January 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why did the libertarian cross the road?”/“None of your business. Am I being detained?”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A libertarian version is: Q: Why did the libertarian cross the road?…

January 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why did the libertarian cross the road?”/“To privatize the other side.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A libertarian version is: Q: Why did the libertarian cross the road?…

January 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why did the libertarian cross the road?”/“What road?”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A libertarian version is: Q: Why did the libertarian cross the road?…

November 7, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the minus sign run for office?”/“To make a difference.”

Many politicians state that they ran for political office "to make a difference." There's a math pun about that. "Why did the minus sign run for office? To make a…

September 11, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the Nazi win the race?”/“He was the fascist.”

"Fascist" shouldn't be confused with "fastest," but there are jokes. "How did Mussolini win the race? ... he was the fascist. #mysadattemptatajoke" was posted on…

November 21, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the police officer smell?”/“Because he was on duty.”

A police officer riddle is: Q: Why did the police officer smell?A: Because he was on duty. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2006. Only SimchasP.S. Why did the policeman…

March 6, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the politician cross the road?”/“To get to the other bribe.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A politician version was printed in The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON)…

November 1, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why did the WASP cross the road?”/“To get to the middle.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) version is: Q: Why did the WASP…

January 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthStreets

“Why didn’t the libertarian cross the road?”/“He thought it was a private road.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A libertarian version is: Q: Why did the libertarian cross the road?…

January 28, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why didn’t Cupid shoot at the lawyer’s heart?”/“Because Cupid can’t hit a target that small.”

A popular Valentine's Day lawyer joke is: Q: Why didn't Cupid shoot his arrow at the lawyer's heart?A: Because even Cupid can't hit a target that small. The riddle has been…

February 26, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do ambassadors never get sick?”/“They have diplomatic immunity.”

An ambassador riddle is: Q: Why do ambassadors never get sick?A: They have diplomatic immunity. "Why do ambassadors never get sick? Diplomatic immunity" was posted on the newsgroup…

November 9, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?”

"Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?" is a jocular one-line saying that has been printed on GIFs. "How come we choose from just…

February 14, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do Americans make such a fuss about 9/11 anyway? What happened on the 9th of November?”

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center are referred to as "9/11." However, Europeans read the day first, then the month. A joke is: "Why…

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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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