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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.…

January 11, 2018
Streets

“Why did the otter cross the road?”/“To get to the otter side.”

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

January 11, 2021
Education/Schools

“Why did the oven go back to University?”/“To get another degree.”

An oven riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on August 31, 2014: Q: Why did the oven go back to University?A: To get another degree. The joke was the "Laugh of the Day" on…

January 12, 2021
Art/Sculpture

“Why did the painting go to jail?”/“It was framed.”

A picture riddle was printed in The News Journal (Wilmington, DE) on October 11, 1996: Q: Why did the picture go to jail?A: Because if was framed. A painting riddle was printed in the Southtown…

March 4, 2018
Time/Weather

“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.…

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.…

December 10, 2016
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant?”/“He had a big bill.”

A pelican has a large "bill," and this has been the subject of several puns. "Why did the pelican refuse to pay for his meal? His bill was too big" was printed in 1958…

April 19, 2021
Streets

“Why did the pervert cross the road?”/“He got stuck in the chicken.”

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

October 2, 2016
Education/Schools

“Why did the physics teacher break up with the biology teacher?”/“There was no chemistry.”

A school science joke is: Q: Why did the physics teacher break up with the biology teacher?A: There was no chemistry. The joke was posted on Twitter on September 3, 2010 and has been printed on…

November 7, 2020
Streets

“Why did the piano player cross the road?”/“To get to the other stride.”

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

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…

January 22, 2021
Art/Sculpture

“Why did the picture go to jail?”/“Because it was framed.”

A picture riddle was printed in The News Journal (Wilmington, DE) on October 11, 1996: Q: Why did the picture go to jail?A: Because if was framed. A painting riddle was printed in the Southtown…

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…

February 6, 2017
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“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 was also posted on…

April 10, 2018
Education/Schools

“Why did the piglets do badly in school?”/“They were all slow loiners.”

A piglet riddle is: Q: Why did the piglets do badly in school?A: They were all slow loiners. The "loiners"/"learners" pun was posted on Twitter on December 14, 2009.…

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…

April 8, 2019
Transportation

“Why did the pilot blush?”/“Because he saw the airstrip.”

"Airstrip" shouldn't be confused with "air strip," but there are jokes. Sometimes the airplane blushes and sometimes the pilot blushes. "Mrs. Sehmi: Why did the…

September 7, 2017
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Why did the pirate ask for a loan with 3.142 percent interest?”/“He wanted the pi-rate!”

A pirate riddle is: Q: Why did the pirate ask to get a mortgage with 3.142 percent interest?A: He wanted the pi-rate! The joke was posted on PirateJokes.net on February 21, 2015. "Why did the…

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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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