The Big Apple
About Archives Categories Index Search
About Archives Categories Index Search

March 29, 2023
Names/Phrases

“What do you call a New Yorker who’s always complaining?”/“A New Yorker.”

New Yorkers have been described as chronic complainers. "TYPICAL NEW YORKER , ALWAYS COMPLAINING" was posted on Twitter by BRUNOCJR on December 30, 2010. "He’s a New Yorker! Always…

October 18, 2017
Work/Businesses

“What do you call a nightmare about paper?”/“A bad ream.”

A nightmare is a bad dream; a nightmare about paper might be "a bad ream." "Awful nightmare last night. I dreamt I'd dropped precisely 500 sheets of A4 paper everywhere. Just a…

May 4, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a part-time orchestra leader?”/“A semi-conductor.”

"Semiconductor: A part-time orchestra leader" was posted on the newsgroup misc.legal on February 16, 1992. "'It was not so long ago,' said the politico Geraldine Ferraro,…

May 13, 2020
Time/Weather

“What do you call a participation trophy in astronomy?”/“A constellation prize.”

A "consolation prize" is not a "constellation prize," but there are jokes. "The astronomer's research project didn't win him the coveted Galaxy Award, but he did…

February 26, 2021
Food/Drink

“What do you call a particularly shitty vegetable?”/“Pro-deuce.”

"Produce" sounds like "pro-deuce," and a pun is: "Fruits and vegetables prevent constipation. That's why they call it pro-deuce." "Deuce" means…

August 28, 2020
Sports/Games

“What do you call a person missing 75% of their spine?”/“A quarterback.”

A football riddle was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes on August 27, 2020: Q: What do you call a person missing 75% of their spine?A: A quarterback. The same riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on the…

July 30, 2020
Food/Drink

“What do you call a person who eats other people slowly?”/“A cannibble.”

"Cannibal" can sound like "can nibble" -- meaning someone "able to nibble" or someone who "nibbles cans" (or nibbles from cans). "What kind of person…

October 7, 2017
Work/Businesses

“What do you call a person who is happy on Monday?”/“Retired.”

A retirement riddle has been printed on several images: Q: What do you call a person who is happy on Monday?A: Retired. The saying was posted on Twitter on September 20, 2014. TwitterRudeNCrude‏…

October 6, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What do you call a person who plays the viola?”/“A violator.”

A person who plays the viola is called a "violist" or simply a "viola player." However, a popular joke is: Q: What do you call a person who plays the viola? A: A violator. The…

June 16, 2016
Food/Drink

“What do you call a phallic-shaped potato?”/“A dictator.”

The potato has a few “-tater” jokes, such as: Q: What do you call a phallic-shaped potato?A: A dictator. "What do you get when you cross a potato with a penis? A dictator" was cited…

February 11, 2021
Food/Drink

“What do you call a phone shaped like an Italian dumpling?”/“A gnocchia.”

"Gnocchi" is a variety of pasta and "Nokia" is a mobile phone, so there are several "gnocchia" jokes. "I'm waiting for that Italian cell phone to become…

June 13, 2015
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig in the sun?”/“Bacon.”

"Bacon" sounds like "baking," leading to the joke: Q: What do you call a pig in the sun?A: Bacon. "What do you call a pig on the beach? Bacon in the sun!" was cited on…

January 17, 2022
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig on a leash?”/“Pulled pork.”

A pig riddle is: Q: What do you call a pig on a leash?A: Pulled pork. "What do you call a stubborn pig on a leash? Pulled pork" was posted on Twitter by Rolly on July 25, 2013. "What…

June 22, 2021
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig that is cold and growling?”/“A Ham-Brrr-Grrr.”

"Burger" is sometimes written as "BrrrrGrrrr," with the joking explanation that it's eaten by someone who is cold (brrrr) and angry (grrrr). "Hamburger" is…

January 30, 2015
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig that knows karate?”/“A pork chop.”

A popular food joke is: Q: What do you call a pig that does karate? A: A pork chop. The joke was published in Boys' Life in 1978 (and has been resubmitted by many other readers and published…

June 22, 2021
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig that’s cold and angry at the same time?”/“A ham-brr-grr”

"Burger" is sometimes written as "BrrrrGrrrr," with the joking explanation that it's eaten by someone who is cold (brrrr) and angry (grrrr). "Hamburger" is…

May 5, 2017
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig thief?”/“A ham-burglar.”

A riddle on the name of the "Hamburglar" (a character in McDonald's restaurant commercials) is: Q: What do you call a pig thief?A: A ham-burglar. The joke has been cited in print…

September 11, 2017
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig with no clothes on?”/“Streaky bacon.”

"Streaky bacon" has nothing to do with streaking, but there's a riddle: Q: What do you call a pig with no clothes on?A: Streaky bacon. The joke has been cited in print since at least…

January 23, 2018
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pig with no legs?”/“A groundhog.”

A pig riddle has been printed on several images: Q: What do you call a pig with no legs?A: A groundhog. The joke (popular on Groundhog Day) has been cited in print since at least 2001. Google…

July 28, 2016
Food/Drink

“What do you call a pious pepper?”/“A holy peño.”

"Holy peño" is sometimes given for "jalapeño." A "Holy-Peno Burger" by 8-year-old Charlie Beckett from Rathdrum, Idaho, was cited on Twitter on December 5, 2008 and…

First
Previous
1282 1283 1284 1285 1286
Next
Last

About the Website and Editor

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.

Read more About the Website and Editor
About
Privacy Policy
RSS

© 2026 Barry Popik. All rights reserved.