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September 13, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do politicians take laxatives?”/“So they can speak more fluently.”

There's a joke for those who believe that politicians are full of crap: Q: Why do politicians take laxatives?A: So they can speak more fluently. The joke was posted on Reddit on July 19, 2016,…

June 17, 2020
Food/Drink

“Why do potatoes make good detectives?”/“Because they keep their eyes peeled.”

A potato riddle is: Q: Why do potatoes make great detectives?A: Because they keep their eyes peeled! The popular potato riddle for children has been cited in print since at least 1995.…

December 21, 2019
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Why do programmers prefer dark mode?”/“Because light attracts bugs.”

"Bugs" (insects) shouldn't be confused with "computer bugs," but there are jokes. This was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on December 21. 2018: Q: Why do programmers prefer dark…

February 5, 2018
Radio/Television

“Why do radio announcers need to have small hands?”/“Wee paws for station identification.”

"We pause for station identification" has been said by radio announcers for many years. A riddle has been cited in print since at least 1940: Q: Why does a radio announcer have small…

June 8, 2022
Radio/Television

“Why do radio stations stop the music just to say they play non-stop music?”

Many radio stations tell listeners about uninterrupted music, but interrupt the music to do so. "Yeah - don't you love the way radio stations keep interrupting the music to tell you how…

July 11, 2022
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Why do Rastafarians avoid Jewish delis?”/“Because they dread lox!”

"Dreadlocks" shouldn't be confused with "dread lox," but there are jokes. "why do rastafarians avoid jewish delis? cuz they dread lox!" was posted on Twitter by…

November 27, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do religions have different Gods but the same Satan?”

"Why do religions have different Gods but the same Satan?" is a question that has been printed on many images. "Different religions have different gods but the same Satan. Hmmm"…

June 20, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do riot police get to work early?”/“To beat the crowd.”

A pun is told about riot police: Q: Why do riot police get to work early?A: To beat the crowd. A form of the joke existed in California after the police beating of Rodney King (1965-2012) on March…

June 22, 2024
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Why do smoke detector batteries only ever run down then start making that annoying beep in the middle of the night?”

Smoke detector batteries start ot beep when they're low, and this always seems to happen in the middle of the night. "why do smoke detector batteries only ever run down then start making…

December 13, 2016
Holidays/Events/Parades

“Why do so many math majors confuse Halloween and Christmas?”/“Because OCT 31 = DEC 25.”

A popular math joke about Halloween and Christmas is: Q: Why do programmers always get Christmas and Halloween mixed up?A: Because DEC 25 = OCT 31! That is, the number "25" (10 or decimal…

February 26, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Why do society hate lazy people? They didn’t even do anything”

"Why we hate lazy people? they are not doing anything anyway" is a question that was asked on Twitter by DearDiary on June 4, 2019. "Why is everyone mad at lazy people? They’re not…

July 10, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Why do Swedish warships have barcodes?”/“So when they dock they can Scandinavian.”

A pun about barcodes is: Q: Why do Swedish warships have barcodes?A: So when they dock they can Scandinavian (scan the navy in). The joke was posted on Twitter by Julian Lee‏ @thisisshaft on…

June 1, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Why do the French have so many civil wars?”/“So that they can win one.”

France has been invaded several times and there's a classic war joke: Q: Why do the French have so many civil wars?A: So that they can win one. English actor and comedian John Cleese (a…

May 20, 2021
Food/Drink

“Why do the French transport snails without their shells?”/“Less cargo.”

"Escargot" (French for "snail") is sometimes given the joke "l'ess/less cargo." "Why do the French transport snails without their shells? Less cargo"…

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

“Why do the Japanese smoke before overthrowing the government?”/“They love haikus.”

"High coup" sounds like "haiku." "The haiku is a high coup" was posted on Twitter on March 10, 2011. "Japanese army, overthrows the government. It was a high…

April 9, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Why do the police use drug-sniffing dogs rather than sober ones?”

The term "drug-sniffing dog" means that the dog sniffs to detect drugs, not that the dog is addicted to drugs. "Why do the police use those drug-sniffing dogs instead of the sober…

August 26, 2017
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Why do they call guns arms and arms guns?”

A gun is a "firearm," or "arms" in the plural. "Guns" is slang for "biceps." A popular question is: "Why do they call guns arms and arms guns?"…

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

“Why do they call guns arms and arms guns?”

A gun is a "firearm," or "arms" in the plural. "Guns" is slang for "biceps." A popular question is: "Why do they call guns arms and arms guns?"…

March 5, 2021
Buildings/Housing/Parks

“Why do they call it a hot water heater when it actually heats cold water?”

A water heater is often called a "hot water heater." "why do people say 'hot water heater' when it heats cold water?" was posted on Twitter by Barry Skalski on May 4,…

September 29, 2021
Streets

“Why do they call it parking and not parqueen?”

There is "parking," but no "parqueen." The two terms have been printed on several images. "The opposite of parking. Parqueen" was posted on Twitter by Rad Luke on May…

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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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