“Why is a colt like an egg?”/“It must be broken before it can be used.”
“Eggs as well as colts must be broken before they can be used” was printed in the Vermont Watchman & State Journal (Montpelier, VT) on May 9, 1883. “Why is an egg like a colt? Because it has to be broken before it is fit for use” was printed in the Speaker’s Garland and Literary Bouquet (1889). “Q. Why is a colt like an egg? A. It must be broken before it can be used” was printed in the Southwestern Advocate (Winfield, KS) on August 1, 1901.
The riddle is now told without mention of the colt. “What has to be broken before it can be used? An egg” was posted on the newsgroup alt.folklore.ghost-stories on October 6, 1999. “#JOKE What has to be broken before it can be used? Answer: An egg !!” was posted on Twitter by Funny Chix (Katie) on August 15, 2009.
Newspapers.com
9 May 1883, Vermont Watchman & State Journal (Montpelier, VT), pg. 2, col. 5:
Eggs as well as colts must be broken before they can be used, and George is equal to the emergency in either case.
Google Books
Speaker’s Garland and Literary Bouquet
Volume 6
Philadelphia, PA: P. Garrett & Co.
1889
Pg. 213:
Why is an egg like a colt? Because it has to be broken before it is fit for use.
Newspapers.com
1 August 1901, Southwestern Advocate (Winfield, KS), “Nuggets,” pg. 5, col. 3:
Q. Why is a colt like an egg?
A. It must be broken before it can be used.
Google Books
Cobwebs and Corn:
An Incomprehensive Study of the Agricultural Revolution
By M. LeRoi
New York, NY: Exposition Press
1959
Pg. 77:
Now, why is an egg like a wild horse? Give up? Each must be broken before it can be used.
Newspapers.com
10 January 1968, News Journal (Mansfield, OH), “Fun Time—The Riddle Box,” pg. 35, col. 7:
Why is a horse like an egg?
It must be broken before it can be used.
Newspapers.com
11 April 1988, Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader, “Just kidding,” pg. C6, col. 1:
Why is a colt like an egg?
It must be broken before it can be used.
Google Groups: alt.folklore.ghost-stories
Riddles (OT)
Word Processing - Centretown Corporate Services
Oct 26, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
> What has to be broken before it can be used?
An egg.
Google Groups: fun_with_numbers
48 RIDDLES
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
May 22, 2005, 9:56:20 AM
(...)
What has to be broken before it can be used?
Google Groups: bangalorebuddies
r u smart 1????
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Feb 25, 2006, 7:31:55 AM
Riddles
(...)
What has to be broken before it can be used?
An egg.
Google Groups: americas-graffitti
Riddles
peggy maloney
Jul 5, 2007, 12:18:15 AM
(...)
What has to be broken before it can be used?
An egg.
Twitter
Funny Chix (Katie)
@FunnyChixDotCom
#JOKE What has to be broken before it can be used? Answer: An egg !! Follow me on Twitter ~ http://short.to/lvzh Thanks
5:45 PM · Aug 15, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
laughslast
@laughslast
What has to be broken before it can be used?.............
An egg.
12:15 AM · Oct 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
ellen
@ellie_aqua_
What has to be broken before you can use it?
An egg…
4:31 PM · Dec 3, 2011·Twitter for iPhone
Reddit—Jokesuncensored
Posted by u/madazzahatter March 22, 2019
What has to be broken before it can be used?
An egg
Twitter
cartierneef
@PureBonifieddd1
i ask my brother a riddle “what has to be broken before you can use it” this nigga says “a girl” The answer was an egg.
-i’m done.
6:57 PM · Feb 3, 2021·Twitter for iPhone