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September 26, 2017
Work/Businesses

“Dentists are janitors for mouths”

"A dentist is just a janitor for someone's mouth" was posted on Twitter on March 29, 2016. "A dentist is just like a janitor for your mouth" was posted on Reddit -- Shower…

November 7, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Dentists will really look you in the eye and ask you if you’re free 6 months from now on Monday at 2 pm”

Dentists often set up appointments in six months -- at a specific day and time, as if the patient really knows what the personal schedule will be at that time in the future. "Dentist will…

December 9, 2024
Banking/Finance/InsuranceGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Deny, defend, depose” (3Ds of insurance company handling of claims)

"Delay, deny, defend" are often called the "3Ds" of insurance company handling of claims. If a claim is delayed for a long time, and then denied, and then defended, the…

December 9, 2024
Banking/Finance/InsuranceGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Depose, deny, defend” (3Ds of insurance company handling of claims)

"Delay, deny, defend" are often called the "3Ds" of insurance company handling of claims. If a claim is delayed for a long time, and then denied, and then defended, the…

February 27, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Deposed kings get throne away”

A royal riddle is: Q: What happens to deposed kings?A: They get throne away. "Throne away" is a pun on "thrown away." The riddle was posted on the newsgroup rec.humor on August…

February 20, 2026
Food/Drink

“Depressed? There’s a potato for that”

"Having a bad day? Theres a potato for that" was posted on X/Twitter by Benny Boy on August 27, 2024, and this received over 4,700 likes. Many people believe that potatoes can bring…

December 8, 2020
Exercise/Running/Health Clubs

“Depression—When you buy a hula-hoop and it fits you”

A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck. It can help people to exercise. The hula hoop is not supposed to fit like a belt -- unless someone is extremely fat.…

September 25, 2017
Food/Drink

“Depression is the toothpaste to the sweet orange juice that is life”

Brushing one’s teeth with toothpaste and then drinking orange juice results in an unpleasant taste, but it’s usually not fatal. “Toothpaste before orange juice equals death” is a one-line…

May 18, 2020
Food/Drink

“Depresso: when you’ve run out of coffee. Represso: when you refuse to talk about it”

"Represso" (repression + espresso) is a jocular coffee term. "Is #represso the opposite of #espresso?" was posted on Twitter by Molly C Loar on November 19, 2013. "I made a…

October 24, 2014
Food/Drink

“Depresso: When you’ve run out of coffee”

"Depresso: When you’ve run out of coffee" is a jocular line that was cited on Twitter on November 25, 2012. "Depresso" is a portmanteau of "depression" and…

February 20, 2016
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Descartes walks into a bar…” (bar joke)

"A guy walks into a bar..." is a typical form of what has been called the "bar joke." A popular philosophy variation is: "René Descartes walks into a bar, see. He orders a…

September 24, 2019
Work/Businesses

“Describe yourself in three words.”/“Lazy.”

"Describe yourself in three words."/"Lazy" is a jocular job interview that has been printed on many images. "How would you describe yourself in 3 words? — LAZY. LAZY.…

April 2, 2026
Names/Phrases

“Dese Dem Dose” (Brooklynese or New Yorkese language)

"Dese, dem and dose" for "these, them and those" is often viewed as typical uneducated language of rough people on the street. The language is often called…

May 21, 2022
Work/Businesses

“Desktops imply the existence of deskbottoms”

Entry in progress -- BP TwitterJundrick JAMar@ohGodJAMnitDesktops implies the existence of deskbottoms.11:43 AM · May 20, 2022·Twitter for Android

March 12, 2020
Buildings/Housing/ParksPets (Dogs, Cats, Horses)

“Despite a valiant effort by my dog from our window, our neighbor has entered his own home”

Dogs can protect property, but they frequently bark unnecessarily at neighbors. A joke was posted on ,a href="https://twitter.com/Darlainky/status/1176568789481267201">Twitter by…

August 8, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Despite removing all the stains, I still lost my job as a church window cleaner”

Many churches have stained windows. "I was a rubbish church window cleaner. I got rid of all the stains" was printed in The Biggest Ever Tim Vine Joke Book (2010) by English writer,…

September 28, 2012
Banking/Finance/Insurance

“Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular”

"Despite the high cost of living, it remains (very) popular" (or, "Despite the high cost of living, it remains a popular item") is a jocular statement that has been printed on…

September 5, 2021
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Despite zero experience, I’m opening a BBQ restaurant next to a courthouse. It’ll be Trial by F

A barbecue joke was posted on Reddit -- Dadjokes on August 23, 2021: "Despite zero experience, I’m opening a BBQ restaurant next to the courthouse. It’ll be Trial by Fire."…

January 18, 2009
Food/Drink

“Desserts” is “stressed” spelled backward

"Desserts" is "stressed" spelled backward. While this always has been the case, this headline in the Los Angeles (CA) Times food section on July 30, 1992 helped to popularize…

September 10, 2014
Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“Developers, developers, developers”

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave a presentation for Microsoft's 25th anniversary in September 2000. His presentation was full of manic energy and he told the crowd that the success of…

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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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