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April 23, 2023
Sports/Games

“American chess players be like, ‘That’s a checkbro’”

"Checkmate" is a chess term meaning that a king is threatened and cannot move away, so the game is over. Some people have suggested changing "mate" (a term popular in Australia)…

September 11, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“American conservatives are pretty homophobic for people so proud of their four fathers”

"Forefathers" shouldn't be confused with "four fathers," but there are jokes. "If gay marriage is wrong, then why did we have four fathers?" was posted on Twitter…

November 4, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“American Idol can count 130 million votes during a commercial break. No excuse for this”

The 2020 U.S. presidential election -- held during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic -- had early voting and mail-in ballots, and final results were delayed by days. The American Idol television…

November 4, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“American Idol can count 130 million votes in a commercial break. This is annoying”

The 2020 U.S. presidential election -- held during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic -- had early voting and mail-in ballots, and final results were delayed by days. The American Idol television…

November 5, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“American politics are played between the 40-yard lines”

"There's an old saying that politics in America is played between the 40-yard lines," wrote Fred Barnes (see 1988 citation below). "What this means, for those unfamiliar with…

August 2, 2026
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“American politics is professional wrestling for people who think they’re too smart to watch professional wrestling”

"Politics is just WWE for people who think they're smart" -- World Wrestling Entertainment is professional wrestling, but for entertainment purposes only and frequently called…

August 12, 2021
Food/Drink

“American wasabi is just really spicy horseradish dyed green”

Horseradish is often compared to wasabi. Wasabi was called "Japanese horseradish" in 1903 by American botanist and plant explorer David Fairchild (1869-1954). "An Expert Describes…

September 26, 2022
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Americans are getting stringer. 20 years ago, it took two adults to carry $50 worth of groceries”

A popular inflation joke has needed inflated numbers, from $10 to $100. "A friend of this column thinks Americans are getting stronger as the years go by. As proof, he points out that back in…

September 19, 2022
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Americans are getting stronger. 20 years ago, it took two people to carry $100 in groceries”

A popular inflation joke has needed inflated numbers, from $10 to $100. "A friend of this column thinks Americans are getting stronger as the years go by. As proof, he points out that back in…

September 19, 2022
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Americans are getting stronger. Twenty years ago it took 2 people to carry $10 worth of groceries”

A popular inflation joke has needed inflated numbers, from $10 to $100. "A friend of this column thinks Americans are getting stronger as the years go by. As proof, he points out that back in…

June 6, 2010
Food/Drink

“Americans have more food to eat than any other people and more diets to keep them from eating it”

America has much food and many diets. ""Americans have more food to eat than any other people and more diets to keep them from eating it" is a quip that has appeared in newspapers…

July 14, 2017
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Americans pay for gym memberships and for people to mow their lawns”

Mowing a lawn is exercise, so who needs a gym membership? "Who needs a gym membership? Just get out & creatively push mow your yd! Jog, lunge, on ur toes.. Smells great & good 4…

July 14, 2017
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Americans pay for gym memberships and for people to mow their lawns”

Mowing a lawn is exercise, so who needs a gym membership? "Who needs a gym membership? Just get out & creatively push mow your yd! Jog, lunge, on ur toes.. Smells great & good 4…

June 30, 2016
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Americans prefer houses with basements. They’re best cellars”

Houses with cellars are "best sellers," according to the pun. "I once read a book on how to remodel my basement. I expected a good read since it made the Best Cellars list" was…

February 22, 2026
Food/Drink

“Americans sometimes use French words like ‘hors d’oeuvres.’ And that’s just for starters”

"Hors d'oeuvres" is a French term for "appetizerrs" or "starters." "Have you noticed that everybody uses a lot of French words? For instance, take hors…

April 15, 2015
Food/Drink

“Americans talk dry, but drink sweet” (wine adage)

"Americans talk dry, but drink sweet" is an old saying about the taste that many Americans have in wines. Americans say that they want a dry wine, but ending up drinking a sweet wine.…

August 29, 2017
Streets

“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic”

"Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic" is a saying that has been printed on many images. American journalist Dan Rather has been credited with the…

May 16, 2023
Transportation

“Amtrak implies the existence of Aretrak and Istrak”

Amtrak (from the words "America" and "track") is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. There is no "Aretrak" or "Istrak," but there…

January 27, 2013
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“An accountant is a man hired to explain that you didn’t make the money you did”

"An accountant is a man hired to explain that you didn't make the money you did" is a jocular definition of an accountant. "Accountant: A man hired to explain that you…

January 21, 2015
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“An accountant is someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had”

"An accountant is someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand" is a popular accounting joke. "A genius is a guy who solves a problem you…

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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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