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May 24, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“‘For the greater good’ almost always means ‘this will be bad for you’”

Governments often ask citizens to make individual sacrifices "for the greater good." American libertarian political activist, entrepreneur, and podcaster Spike Cohen wrote on X/Twitter on…

January 6, 2024
Food/Drink

“‘Gastronomy’ implies the existence of an occult science of gastrology”

Some people joke that as astronomy is to astrology, then gastronomy is to gastrology. "Gastronomy implies the existence of gastrology" was posted on X/Twitter by Mr Roger Quimbly on March…

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

“‘Gun control’ is the government using guns to control you”

What does "gun control" mean? "'GUN CONTROL' is the GOVERNMENT using GUNS to control YOU" (shown on an image) was posted on X/Twitter by Edgar Friendly ⬛️🟨 on…

November 8, 2025
Time/WeatherWork/Businesses

“‘Hopefully this week is over soon’—Me on a Monday”

Many people hate Monday, the traditional start of the work week. They also hate the entire work week. "'Hopefully this week is over soon' -- Me on a Monday" is a jocular saying…

April 10, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“‘I can’t fix my life. But I can fix the world,’ said the socialist”

Socialists (and socialism) have been criticized for not being successful, but for pushing that failure on the world. A saying was posted on Twitter by Alice Smith on April 9, 2021: "'I…

March 3, 2018
Sports/Games

“‘I could watch him play video games for hours,’ said no one’s wife, ever”

A man playing video games is usually not a part of a romantic relationship. "'I could watch him play video games for hours,' said no one’s wife, ever" is a jocular line that…

May 18, 2018
Streets

“‘I don’t see color,’ she said, as she ran the traffic light”

"I don't see color" is an expression meaning that the color of someone's skin is not relevant to this person. A traffic light joke takes this expression literally. "'I…

February 15, 2024
Food/DrinkRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“‘I don’t stop drinking because the owner of the bar has a family to feed,’ says a drunk”

"I wanted to stop drinking but then I remembered the owner of the pub has a family to feed" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. There are several variations of the…

May 18, 2015
Food/Drink

“‘I hate tacos!’ said no Juan ever”

"...said no one ever" is an Internet meme that became popular in January 2012. People thought of "...said no Juan ever," and Mexican food was added to the first part of the…

November 29, 2019
Workers/People

“‘I have a split personality,’ said Tom, being Frank”

"'I have a split personality' said Tom being Frank" is a joke that was posted on the website Pun of the Day in 1999. "Frank" is a name and "frank" is also a…

November 29, 2019
Workers/People

“‘I have multiple personality disorder,’ said Tom, being Frank”

"'I have a split personality' said Tom being Frank" is a joke that was posted on the website Pun of the Day in 1999. "Frank" is a name and "frank" is also a…

August 26, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“‘I just caught a terrorist!’ said no TSA agent ever”

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created after the September 11, 2001 attacks to improve airport security procedures. Many people believe that the TSA does nothing and is mostly…

July 11, 2020
Education/Schools

“‘I know a word that uses all six vowels including ‘y’ in alphabetical order,’ said Tom facetiously”

A-E-I-O-U-Y are the English vowels, in order. There are several English words that

January 3, 2026
Buildings/Housing/ParksTime/Weather

“‘I love snow’— People who never shovel”

What type of person loves the snow? "i love snow, until i have to shovel it!!!!" was posted on X/Twitter by Franco Campanella on December 6, 2009. "i love the snow... that is until i…

November 4, 2022
Time/Weather

“‘I love turning the clocks back so it gets dark by 4 pm’ Said no one ever”

"'I love turning the clocks back so it gets dark by 4pm' said no one ever" (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by Sent-Well.com (and others) on November 1, 2014. The same…

June 24, 2015
Work/Businesses

“‘I must do something’ will always solve more problems than ‘Something must be done’”

"'I must do something' will always solve more problems than 'Something must be done'" is a saying that has been printed on posters. The saying has been cited in print…

December 1, 2019
Sports/Games

“‘I only have diamonds, clubs and spades,’ said Tom heartlessly”

A "Tom Swifty" about playing cards was posted on the newsgroup alt.humor.puns on March 18, 2000: "'I only have diamonds, clubs and spades,' said Tom heartlessly."…

September 4, 2015
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“‘I ran a half marathon’ sounds so much better than ‘I quit halfway through a marathon’”

"I ran a half-marathon! Small print: I entered a marathon and gave up halfway through" was cited on Twitter on September 24, 2013. The joke became viral with Rick Aaron's tweet on…

March 1, 2026
Food/DrinkPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“‘I said NO!’—Me, shortly before giving my dog my sandwich”

A dog often wants the sandwich that an owner is eating. The owner might say "no," but the dog often wins the sandwich in the end. "I said 'No' -- Me, about to give my dog a…

August 24, 2018
Work/Businesses

“‘I see,’ said the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw”

"'I see,' said the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw" is a form of pun known as a "Wellerism." "A country paper, in speaking of a blind wood…

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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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