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February 21, 2025
Transportation

“Due to recent airplane malfunctions, it is now socially acceptable to clap when the plane lands”

Many people clap when their plane lands and it's the end of a safe flight. Experienced travelers often cringe at the clapping. However, in early 2025, there were several plane crashes, and the…

March 19, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to the quarantine… I’ll only be telling inside jokes”

The 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak caused some quarantines. "All jokes are inside jokes now that we're on quarantine" was posted on Twitter by aubs on March 16, 2020. "All jokes…

June 3, 2020
Work/Businesses

“Due to the recent outbreak of Corona virus, kissing ass has been temporarily suspended”

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic changed many workplaces. This jocular work notice was posted on Twitter by @AhmedTawfiq on March 30, 2020: "NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF…

June 5, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to the shortage of cleaning supplies, dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap”

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (1976) is a hard rock song by the Australian band AC/DC. The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic created panic buying (and shortages) of some cleaning supplies.…

January 18, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to travel restrictions, America had to invade itself this year”

"Due to travel restrictions, America/United States/USA had to invade itself this year" is a jocular saying that had been printed on many images. The travel restrictions are because of the…

January 19, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to travel restrictions, the United States had to invade itself this year”

"Due to travel restrictions, America/United States/USA had to invade itself this year" is a jocular saying that had been printed on many images. The travel restrictions are because of the…

January 19, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to travel restrictions, the USA had to invade itself this year”

"Due to travel restrictions, America/United States/USA had to invade itself this year" is a jocular saying that had been printed on many images. The travel restrictions are because of the…

January 19, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“Due to travel restrictions, this year the United States had to organize the coup at home”

"Due to travel restrictions, America/United States/USA had to invade itself this year" is a jocular saying that had been printed on many images. The travel restrictions are because of the…

December 29, 2024
Work/Businesses

“Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am at work”

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am at work" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The "unfortunate circumstances" probably are that the speaker does not have…

December 29, 2024
Work/Businesses

“Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am awake”

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am awake" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The speaker would rather be in bed sleeping, but must do things, perhaps to take care of…

December 29, 2024
Food/Drink

“Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am currently sober”

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am sober" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The speaker would like to be drinking alcohol, but perhaps can't afford it or must…

December 29, 2024
Food/Drink

“Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am sober”

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am sober" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The speaker would like to be drinking alcohol, but perhaps can't afford it or must…

May 16, 2016
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert”

The book The Dictionary According to Mommy (1989), by Joyce Armor, contains this definition: "Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert." A "dumbwaiter"…

April 23, 2018
Food/Drink

“Dumplings are just Chinese ravioli”

Dumplings is a dish that is sometimes compared to ravioli. "Chinese ravioli" was printed in the book San Francisco's Chinatown (1936), and the earliest cites usually referred to…

July 20, 2019
Food/Drink

“Dumplings imply the existence of a large dumple”

The word "dumpling" inspires some people to invent the world "dumple." "Is having dumplings with dumple" was posted on Twitter by Teddÿ Cee on September 15, 2008.…

April 23, 2024
Food/Drink

“Dungeness crab implies the existence of Dragoness crab”

The Dungeness crab has nothing to do with the game of Dungeons and Dragons, but there are jokes. "Last night I finally dined on dungeness crab, so I can now look forward to the next food on my…

September 10, 2017
Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores

“Dunno what this WiFi dude did, but I’ve seen a ton of bars and restaurants demanding his freedom”

Many restaurants have signs that say "Free Wi-Fi," but that doesn't mean that someone named "Wi-Fi" is in jail. A jocular comment was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on September…

September 22, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“During a campaign, the air is full of speeches—and vice versa”

"During a campaign, the air is full of speeches -- and vice versa" (the reverse, meaning "the speeches are full of air") is a humorous quip that appears to date from the 1960s.…

October 3, 2013
Education/Schools

“During exams, students look up for inspiration, down in desperation”

Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksMiddle and High School Teaching: Methods, Standards, and Best PracticesBy James A. DuPlassBoston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.2006Pg. 280:Prior to a test, announce…

May 13, 2018
Transportation

“During his air test, a young pilot flew through a rainbow. He passed with flying colors”

Entry in progress -- B.P. TwitterCharles White@cewtwoReplying to @MistyMontano@MistyMontano During his air test a young pilot flew through a rainbow. He passed with flying colors.7:37 PM - 23 Jun…

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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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