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July 5, 2015
Time/Weather

“Why do birds fly south for the winter?”/“Because it’s too far to walk.”

The classic question of "Why do birds fly south in the winter?" has a simple answer: Q: Why do birds fly south in the winter?A: Because it's too far to walk. The joke has been cited…

July 29, 2021
Time/Weather

“Why do cows lie when it’s raining?”/“To keep each udder dry.”

A cow riddle is: Q: Why do cows lie down when it's raining? A: To keep each udder dry. "Udder" sounds like "other." The riddle was printed in the book I Know an Old Lady…

January 14, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do I live in a place where the air hurts my face?”

"The air hurts my face. Why am I living where the air hurts my face?" -- usually meaning that the winter air is very cold, possibly causing frostbite -- is a saying that has been printed…

July 23, 2020
Time/Weather

“Why do lions only mate in the summer?”/“Because the pride comes before the fall.”

"Pride comes before a fall" is a version of the saying in the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 16:18. "Pride" does not mean a group of lions and "fall" does not mean autumn,…

June 18, 2021
Time/Weather

“Why do lions stay with their families in June?”/“Because that’s Pride Month!”

"Pride Month" has nothing to do with a "pride of lions," but there are jokes. "[i show up to work fully decked out in a full body lion suit] I ... misunderstood what pride…

May 2, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do mornings begin so early?”

"Why do mornings have to begin so early?" (or "Why do mornings begin so early?") is a jocular saying. "Why do mornings begin so early?" was posted on X/Twitter by Lisa…

May 2, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do mornings have to be so early?”

"Why do mornings have to be so early?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. "Why do mornings have to be so early in the morning?" was posted on X/Twitter by…

May 2, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do mornings have to begin so early?”

"Why do mornings have to begin so early?" (or "Why do mornings begin so early?") is a jocular saying. "Why do mornings begin so early?" was posted on X/Twitter by Lisa…

May 2, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do mornings have to start so early?”

"Why do mornings start so early?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images. "Why do mornings have to start so early?" is another form of the saying. "Why…

May 2, 2024
Time/Weather

“Why do mornings start so early?”

"Why do mornings start so early?" is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images. "Why do mornings have to start so early?" is another form of the saying. "Why…

March 15, 2017
Time/Weather

“Why do Native Americans hate snow?”/“Because it’s white and settles on their land.”

A riddle about Native Americans is: Q: Why do Native Americans hate snow?A: Because it's white and settles on their land. The joke was first posted on Reddit -- Jokes on April 9, 2015 and has…

February 15, 2017
Time/Weather

“Why do people carry umbrellas?”/“Because umbrellas can’t walk.”

An umbrella riddle is: Q: Why do people carry umbrellas?A: Because umbrellas can't walk. The riddle was printed in many newspapers in 1986. 21 January 1986, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA),…

May 30, 2019
Time/Weather

“Why do writers constantly feel cold?”/“Because they’re surrounded by drafts.”

"I'm a writer. If I seem cold, it's because I'm surrounded by drafts" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. A riddle was posted on BuzzFeed on December…

February 28, 2021
Time/Weather

“Why does lightning shock people?”/“Because it doesn’t know how to conduct itself.”

A lightning riddle is: Q: Why does lightning shock people? A: Because it doesn't know how to conduct itself. Lightning conducts electricity. The joke was printed in many newspapers in November…

July 17, 2017
Time/Weather

“Why does night fall but never break and day break but never fall?”

The day breaks, but never falls. The night falls, but never breaks. This observation has been cited in print at least as early as Harper's Bazar (New York, NY) in 1889: "It is a fact…

October 21, 2016
Time/Weather

“Why don’t ghosts like rain?”/“It dampens their spirits.”

A popular Halloween riddle about ghosts is: Q: Why don't ghosts like rain?A: It dampens their spirits. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1987. “Why do ghosts like to ride in…

March 2, 2018
Time/Weather

“Why don’t you wear snow boots?”/“Because they’ll melt.”

A snow riddle is: Q: Why don't you wear snow boots?A: Because they'll melt. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2003. 11 November 2003, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI),…

July 1, 2019
Time/Weather

“Why don’t people get up early in Athens?”/“Because Dawn is tough on Greece.”

"Dawn" is a brand of dishwashing liquid owned by Procter & Gamble. "Tough on grease, soft on hands" is a trademarked slogan from 1994. There are "Greece" puns.…

March 13, 2020
Time/Weather

“Why haven’t aliens visited our solar system yet?”/“They looked at the reviews. Only 1 star.”

The earth's solar system has one star -- the sun. "one star" is not a rating, but there are jokes. "We should all give Earth a one star rating on Google Reviews so aliens…

March 19, 2021
Time/Weather

“Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a K and not a C?”/“Because you can’t C in the dark.”

"See" sounds like the letter "C," and there are jokes. This riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on April 14, 2013: Q: Why is "dark" spelled with a k and not with c?A:…

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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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