"My dad was a workaholic. Every time someone…

“My dad was a workaholic. Every time someone mentioned work, he got drunk” is a joke that has been printed on many images. The word “workaholic” is not an exact portmanteau of the words “work” and “alcoholic,” but this idea forms the pun.

“YOU SHOULD JOIN WORKAHOLICS ANONYMOUS. WHEN YOU GET THE URGE TO WORK, CALL THEM AND THEY’LL TAKE YOU OUT AND GET DRUNK” was a cartoon printed in the Daily News (New York, NY) on September 23, 1976. “Members of Workaholics Anonymous rescue each other from compulsive overwork by calling each other up and saying, ‘What do you say we knock off and go out and get drunk?’” was printed in the Daily News on March 15, 1978.

“‘My father was a workaholic,’ says Rodney Dangerfield. ‘You mentioned work, he got drunk’” was printed in the Trenton (NJ) Times on August 15, 1983. American stand-up comedian Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) is usually credited with the joke.

23 September 1976, Daily News (New York, NY), “Drunk on the Job” by Gerry Nachman, pg. 8, col. 1:
(A cartoon of a boss speaking to a worker.—ed.)
“YOU SHOULD JOIN WORKAHOLICS ANONYMOUS. WHEN YOU GET THE URGE TO WORK, CALL THEM AND THEY’LL TAKE YOU OUT AND GET DRUNK.”

15 March 1978,

(New York, NY), “A cram course on Irish jokes” by William Reel, pg. 46, col. 2:
Members of Workaholics Anonymous rescue each other from compulsive overwork by calling each other up and saying, “What do you say we knock off and go out and get drunk?”

15 August 1983, Trenton (NJ) Times, “Thanks to Brian’s friends” by Frank Tyger, pg. C1, col. 1:
“My father was a workaholic,” says Rodney Dangerfield. “You mentioned work, he got drunk.”

6 June 1984,,The Leader (Surrey, BC), “Vander Zalm on the spit” by Maurice Donn, pg. A46, col. 1:
“Rotary Club President Jim Garlough is a workaholic. Mention work and he gets drunk.”

14 November 1984, Edmonton (Alberta) Journal, “Kimball’s roast a rare treat” by Cam Cole, pg. E1, col. 5:
Legge on Montgomery: “he’s a workaholic: mention work and he gets drunk.”

24 November 1986, The Sun (Flagstaff, AZ), “Celebrity Cipher,” pg. 13 col. 1:
PREVIOUS SOLUTION: “My partner is a workaholic. Every time I mention work, he gets drunk.”—Rodney Dangerfield.

15 August 1988, Beatrice (NE) Daily Sun, “Celebrity Cipher,” pg. B-4, col. 2:
PREVIOUS SOLUTION: “He’s a workaholic. Mention work, and he gets drunk.”—Irv Kupcinet.

23 August 1991, Orlando (FL) Sentinel, “Short Subjects” by Jay Boyar, Calendar sec., pg. 6, col. 5:
“He’s a real workaholic. You mention work, he gets drunk.” A sarcastic basset hound (the voice of Rodney Dangerfield), about his owner’s deadbeat boyfriend, in Rover Dangerfield.

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male depression/violence and a slap at feminism (was: Suicide ...)
Charleen Bunjiovianna Stoner
1/5/92
(...)
My partner’s a real workaholic. Every time you mention work, he gets drunk. —Rodney Dangerfield

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Ratbat
11/23/98
(...)
He’s a real workaholic. You mention work, he gets drunk.
- Rodney Dangerfield

Google Books
Hilarious Roasts, Toasts & One-Liners
By Gene Perret with Terry Martin
New York, NY: Galahad Books
2001
Pg. 346:
He’s a real workaholic. You mention work, he gets drunk. —Rodney Dangerfield

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Quick Quips
Ike D
12/28/03
(...)
My Dad was a workaholic. Every time someone mentioned work, he got drunk.

Twitter
Debbie Winkler Estes
@GiggleFlower
My Dad was a workaholic. Everytime someone mentioned work, he got drunk.
9:13 AM - 3 Oct 2009

Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
My dad was a workaholic, every time my ma mentioned work he got drunk
6:01 PM - 15 Mar 2019