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July 4, 2022
Food/DrinkGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthOrigin of “Uncle Sam”/“Brother Jonathan”

“What is Uncle Sam’s favorite snack?”/“Fire crackers.”

A popular July 4th (Independence Day) riddle is: Q: What is Uncle Sam's favorite snack?A: Fire crackers. July 4th firecrackers are not edible crackers, of course. The riddle has been cited in…

June 18, 2023
Food/Drink

“What is whisky?”/“Wussian woulette.”

A whiskey joke is: Q: What is whiskey?A: Wussian woulette. The same person both asks and answers the question, and the letter "w" replaces the letter "r." The person was…

January 29, 2018
Food/Drink

“What is white, sugary, has whiskers and floats on the sea?”/“A catameringue.”

A catamaran doesn't contain any meringue, but there's a riddle: Q: What is white, sugary, has whiskers and floats on the sea?A: A catameringue. The "catameringue" pun has been…

January 29, 2018
Transportation

“What is white, sugary, has whiskers and floats on the sea?”/“A catameringue.”

A catamaran doesn't contain any meringue, but there's a riddle: Q: What is white, sugary, has whiskers and floats on the sea?A: A catameringue. The "catameringue" pun has been…

June 20, 2022
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“What is worth less than fifty-five cents?”/“The same fifty-five cents tomorrow.”

Inflation eats away at savings. "What's worth less than a penny? The same penny tomorrow" was posted on Twitter by Pike💽🗿 on May 24, 2021. "WHAT IS WORTH LESS THAN FIFTY…

April 20, 2015
Hotels

“What job did the frog have at the hotel?”/“Bell hop.”

One popular hotel riddle is: Q: What job did the frog have at the hotel?A: Bellhop. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2004. Google BooksThe Gigantic Book of RiddlesBy Jacqueline…

December 16, 2017
Food/Drink

“What keeps Gouda up at night?”/“The Muenster under the bed.”

Muenster cheese has several "monster" puns. Gouda cheese has several "good" puns. "There's a muenster under my bed, it doesn't look very Gouda" was posted on…

November 2, 2016
Food/Drink

“What key has legs and can’t open doors?”/“A turkey.”

A popular Thanksgiving turkey riddle is: Q: What key has legs and can't open doors?A: A turkey. Te riddle has been cited in print since at least 1998. “What’s the key to a great…

March 17, 2020
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“What kills coronavirus?”/“Ammonia cleaner.”/“Sorry, I thought you worked here.”

"Ammonia cleaner" can sound like "I'm only a cleaner." A joke was posted on Twitter by Yorkie 'B' #xmil on September 5, 2018: I was in a hardware shop and I said…

June 29, 2022
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“What kind of advice do you give to an architect?”/“Constructive criticism.”

"Constructive criticism" usually doesn't involve construction, but there are jokes. An architect riddle is: Q: What kind of advice do you give to an architect?A: Constructive…

April 9, 2018
Work/Businesses

“What kind of ant is good at math?”/“An accountant.”

An ant riddle is: Q: What kind of ant is good at math?A: An accountant. The "account-ant"/"accountant" joke has been cited in print since at least 2001. 6 May 2001, Sunday…

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…

August 13, 2016
Food/Drink

“What kind of apple has a short temper?”/“A crab apple.”

Do crab apples really crabby? A pun on the "crab apple" name is: Q: What kind of apple has a short temper?A: A crab apple. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976. Google…

May 25, 2016
Food/Drink

“What kind of bagel can fly?”/“A plain bagel.”

There's a popular bagel pun: Q: What kind of bagel can fly?A: A plain (plane) bagel. Peter Flom tweeted the joke on September 25, 2010, explaining tha it was "a joke my kid made up when…

December 20, 2016
Time/Weather

“What kind of ball doesn’t bounce?”/“A snowball.”

A snow riddle is: Q: What kind of ball doesn't bounce?A: A snowball. The riddle was posted to the newsgroup alt.tv.lost on September 28, 2005. Other snowball riddles include “What do you…

March 21, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What kind of band plays snappy music?”/“A rubber band.”

A band riddle is: Q: What kind of band plays snappy music?A: A rubber band. "Does the rubber band play snappy music?" was printed in many newspapers in 1935. "What kind of band plays…

March 27, 2016
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“What kind of bar do fish go to?”/“A sand bar.”

A bar joke about fish is: Q: What kind of bar do fish go to?A: A sand bar. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2003. DCEmulationBad JokesRoofusPosted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 11:50 am…

October 8, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“What kind of bats swing upside down?”/“Acro-bats.”

A riddle about bats is: Q: What kind of bats swing upside down? A: Acro-bats. The "acro-bats" pun has been cited in print since at least 1993. 27 October 1993, Victoria (TX) Advocate,…

April 14, 2017
Food/Drink

“What kind of beans don’t grow in a garden?”/“Jelly beans.”

A bean riddle is: Q: What kind of beans don't grow in a garden?A: Jelly beans. The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1958 and has been popular at Easter. 4 June 1958, San Diego…

April 25, 2016
Food/Drink

“What kind of bee gives milk?”/“A boobie.”

A milk joke is: Q: What kind of bee gives milk?A: A boobee (boobie). The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997. Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokesthe beeJ. Johnson 4/14/97(...)Reminds me…

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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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