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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, feast your eyes on this delightful assortment of 50 funny facts.
- Did you know that the word “gobbledygook” means language that is meaningless or hard to understand? Sounds like my last trip to the pub, if you ask me.
- In ancient Rome, the punishment for killing one’s father was to be sewn into a sack with a viper, a dog, and a rooster, then thrown into the river. Talk about a cruel version of Noah’s Ark!
- The first recorded game of baseball took place in 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey. That’s before even Queen Victoria got her knickers in a twist!
- In 1963, French artist Yves Klein registered the colour “International Klein Blue” as a trademark. Now that’s what I call a true “blue-blood”!
- An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. I won’t comment on any similarities to certain politicians.
- The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasting a mere 38-45 minutes. Clearly, we were in a hurry for afternoon tea.
- In 1923, jockey Frank Hayes won a race at Belmont Park, New York, despite being dead. He suffered a heart attack mid-race but his body remained in the saddle until his horse crossed the finish line. Talk about dedication!
- The word “avocado” comes from the Nahuatl word “ahuacatl,” meaning testicle. I suppose that puts a new spin on the phrase “having a pair.”
- In medieval Europe, animals could be put on trial for crimes. Let’s hope they had a good barrister!
- The first recorded game of cricket took place in 1646 in Kent, England. A sticky wicket indeed!
- A “buttload” is an actual measurement of volume, equivalent to 126 gallons. That’s enough to throw a proper British bash!
- A jiffy is a real unit of time, equal to one-hundredth of a second. I’ll be back in a jiffy… see, that wasn’t long at all!
- The longest English word without a vowel is “rhythms.” Try saying that five times fast after a pint or two.
- The world’s largest recorded snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. Now that’s what I call a proper snowball!
- In 2013, a Chinese businessman bought a painting for $4.8 million and then promptly destroyed it to avoid paying import taxes. That’s one way to dodge the taxman!
- The inventor of the Frisbee, Walter Frederick Morrison, was cremated and had his ashes turned into a Frisbee. Catch!
- The phrase “bring home the bacon” comes from an ancient English tradition where newlyweds were given a side of bacon as a wedding gift. Bacon truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
- In 2007, the Iranian government arrested 14 squirrels for espionage. I always knew those bushy-tailed critters were up to no good.
- Did you know that the word “swims” still reads “swims” when turned upside down? Go on, give it a try – just don’t spill your tea!
- In 1929, researchers discovered that the Grand Canyon could store approximately 900 trillion confetti pieces. I guess that makes it the world’s largest party venue!
- A “quidnunc” is a person who is eager to know the latest news or gossip. You might say they have a “nose for news.”
- The world’s oldest known joke dates back to 1900 BC and is a Sumerian fart joke. Some things never change, do they?
- In 1939, Adolf Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Talk about irony!
- The word “nerd” was first coined by none other than Dr. Seuss in his 1950 book, “If I Ran the Zoo.” Who knew?
- The city of Boring in Oregon, USA, has a sister city called Dull in Scotland. There’s a third town called Bland in Australia – sounds like a riveting trio!
- There are more fake flamingos in the world than real ones. Now that’s a sobering thought for our pink-feathered friends.
- The shortest scientific paper ever published was just two sentences long. The author must have been a man of few words!
- A group of ferrets is called a “business.” I wonder if they wear tiny suits and carry miniature briefcases.
- In ancient Rome, urine was used as a tooth whitener. Well, that puts a whole new spin on the phrase “pearly whites.”
- The Hawaiian alphabet only contains 12 letters. I suppose that makes spelling bees a breeze!
- In 2013, a Canadian dentist bought John Lennon’s tooth for £19,500 and planned to clone the former Beatle. Because who wouldn’t want a spare Lennon lying about?
- In 18th century England, it was fashionable for ladies to wear small, decorative potato-like ornaments in their hair. That’s just spud-tacular!
- The word “trampoline” comes from the Spanish word “trampolin,” which means “diving board.” I suppose it’s all about taking the plunge!
- There’s an island in the Bahamas inhabited solely by swimming pigs. Sounds like hog heaven!
- You can’t hum while holding your nose closed. Don’t believe me? Give it a try!
- A “cwtch” is a Welsh term for a hug that provides a safe place for someone. We could all use a cwtch now and then, couldn’t we?
- The word “pandemonium” comes from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and means “all demons.” Quite the opposite of a heavenly experience, I’d say.
- A duel between three people is called a truel. May the odds be ever in your favour!
- In 2012, a Swedish man survived for two months trapped in his snow-covered car by eating snow and hibernating. Now that’s a frosty tale of survival!
- The word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is 34 letters long and was invented for the 1964 film “Mary Poppins.” Try fitting that on a Scrabble board!
- A group of jellyfish is called a “smack.” Just don’t get smacked by their stingers!
- In 1977, a radio signal from deep space called the “WOW!” signal was detected but has never been explained. Aliens, perhaps?
- Beethoven’s favourite fruit was reportedly the humble apple. An apple a day keeps the symphonies at bay?
- The colour orange was named after the fruit, not the other way around. Now that’s a juicy fact!
- In 1993, San Francisco held a referendum on whether to ban the sale of goldfish. Talk about fishy politics!
- A “lawn mullet” is a term for a well-manicured front yard and an unkempt backyard. Sounds like a landscaping faux pas!
- The word “clue” originally meant a ball of thread, which comes from the Greek myth of Theseus using a ball of thread to find his way out of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. I guess we’ve been unravelling mysteries ever since!
- In 1386, a pig was executed in France for the murder of a child. Talk about the ultimate case of swine flu!
- The word “taser” is actually an acronym for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle,” which was inspired by a science fiction novel. Shocking, isn’t it?
- And finally, the Canary Islands were not named after canary birds, but rather after the Latin word “canaria,” which means “dog.” I guess it’s time to let sleeping dogs lie!
There you have it, 50 funny facts that I hope have tickled your funny bone and provided a good giggle or two.
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