Category Archives: Humor

Don’t B Sharp, Don’t B Flat, It’s Better to B Natural. (Gloss)

The phrase is a pun based on musical terminology:

“Don’t B sharp, don’t B flat, it’s better to B natural.”

This plays on the names of musical notes:

  • “B sharp” and “B flat” refer to accidentals in music.
  • “B natural” is both a musical note and a play on words encouraging someone to “be natural” in life.
  • The phrase suggests a balance—not being too extreme (sharp or flat), but being oneself (natural).

I first heard this phrase from M, the music director at my church. He used it in a lighthearted way while talking to the choir and musicians, emphasizing the importance of staying attentive in rehearsal with a positive attitude. He mentioned that he had heard variations of this pun before and liked using it as a joke to keep rehearsals engaging but also as a way to get members to self-check their presence in the rehearsal. Beyond the musical meaning, M explained it to me as a life lesson—encouraging people to avoid falling in uncontrolled extremes and instead be genuine and balanced. He uses this phrase both as humor and as a small piece of wisdom for his students and fellow musicians.

This phrase is a musical pun that also carries philosophical meaning. On the surface, it is a clever joke about musical notes, playing with the homophonic nature of “B” and “be” to create wordplay. However, beneath the humor, it conveys a message of authenticity and moderation.

Musically, being “sharp” or “flat” means being slightly out of tune—too high or too low in pitch. In a broader sense, these terms can symbolize extremes in behavior or emotions—being overly aggressive (sharp) or too passive (flat). By saying it’s better to “B natural”, the phrase suggests that the best approach in both music and life is to remain balanced, authentic, and in tune with oneself. As a musician who studies jazz at USC, this kind of wordplay is common in musician communities, where humor often arises from shared knowledge of musical terminology. It also reflects the tradition of using puns and idioms to pass down wisdom in a memorable way. In a church setting, this phrase could take on an additional layer of meaning, encouraging people to be true to themselves and their faith. Ultimately, this phrase highlights how language, music, and life lessons can intertwine, showing how humor can be used as both entertainment and a means of imparting wisdom.

Date_of_performance: 2/24/25
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: Teacher
Primary Language: English
Residence: San Francisco, CA

Don’t Hit a Dog with a Meatbun!

“If You Hit a Dog with a Meat Bun, the Dog Eats It and You Have No Food Now”

In Mandarin, the proverb is phrased as “用肉包子打狗，有去无回” (yòng ròu bāozi dǎ gǒu, yǒu qù wú huí). This mandarin phrase translates literally to: “If you hit a dog with a meat bun, the dog eats it, and you get nothing back.” The meaning behind the proverb is that once something is given away or invested in the wrong place, it is lost with no return.

I learned this proverb from my classmate C, who heard it from a Chinese friend with whom she has a close personal relationship. Her friend explained it to her in the context of making futile efforts—situations where people put in effort, time, or resources but receive nothing in return. C told me she found it humorous and practical, often using it in conversations when she or someone she knows feels like their effort has been wasted. For example, she mentioned using the phrase when lending money to someone unlikely to repay or when trying to argue with a stubborn person who refuses to change their mind.

This proverb reflects to me, a somewhat practical, yet humorous worldview, emphasizing the importance of knowing where to invest one’s energy and resources. The image of someone literally throwing a meat bun at a dog—only for the dog to eat it—is a vivid metaphor for wasted effort. The cultural value embedded in this proverb aligns with pragmatism, a notion that is deeply ingrained and enshrined in my perception of Chinese culture and their proverbs/folk sayings. From a broader perspective, this proverb connects to universal themes of loss and strategic thinking—understanding that not all efforts are worthwhile and that being mindful of where one invests energy is crucial. It also reveals a subtle caution against generosity without foresight, a theme in many folk traditions worldwide. The humor in the phrase makes it more engaging and relatable, allowing it to be used in everyday conversations while carrying deeper wisdom.

Date of performance: 2/11/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: Los Angeles, CA

“Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes”

Nationality: American
Age: 23
Occupation: US Marine
Residence: Fort Mead, Maryland
Language: English

Text: “Play stupid games win stupid prizes”

Context: This folk speech is commonly used in the military as a warning to others not to make “stupid” decisions because they will result in “stupid” consequences. Quoted are examples provided by the informant for using this saying:

“If you do dumb things, that’s what you will get as a result. Like not taking out your trash or making your bed (stupid game) and they check it and they flip your mattress or throw the trash on the floor (stupid result).” Another example given was “you fall asleep with your rifle, you play stupid games.” 

Interpretation: With the high expectations that come with being military personnel, this folk saying essentially encourages each other to perform the duties that they are expected to perform by authority figures. Often in the military, when one person makes a mistake, everyone gets in trouble, or the consequence is ridiculous as shown in the informants’ examples. By warning each other of the consequences to unnecessary mistakes, they are looking out for their team by potentially saving themselves from over-the-top consequences that come with the smaller mistakes.

Jail

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Language: English

Text:

Jail 

Context:

My informant first heard this saying on social media when she was in high school. She either will simply state “jail” or say that someone “deserves jail” for something that they either said or did. It is often used when people say something unexpected, strange, offensive, etc. 

Analysis:

This slang word or term is used in casual conversation to convey a form of shock or disbelief, most likely used around friends. It builds on the sentiment that someone said something or did something that was so unbelievable that they deserve to spend time in jail as a result of their actions. The use of this phrase would only make sense in a culture where there is a criminal justice system and amongst people who are often on social media sites where phrases like this are often used. 

“Jiminy Crickets!”

Nationality: American
Age: 60
Occupation: Writer
Language: English

Context

My mother often used the phrase “Jiminy Crickets!” as a response to something that shocked or surprised her. I mean she even does it to this day. “Jiminy Crickets!” is a reference to the character Jiminy Cricket from Disney’s Pinocchio (1940). Here, the name is a euphemism for “Jesus Christ,” another exclamation with more socially risky language given attitudes around using the Lord’s name “in vain.” This makes the phrase a minced oath: a watered-down substitute for another phrase the conveys the same sentiment.

Analysis

Like many minced oaths, this phrase is meant to avoid using words considered taboo by certain communities while still expressing the same meaning. This phrase is a prime example of popular culture influencing folk vernacular. Apparently, John Bartlett in his 1848 book Dictionary of Americanisms makes note of “by Jiminy,” another exclamation that is itself a corruption of the Greek gemini twins. It seems that the name Jiminy has come completely full circle within American vernacular. It started as folk speech before becoming subsumed by a popular character, only to resurrect itself as a minced oath in the present day. From mythology, to everyday speech, to pop culture icon, to minced oath. The cyclical journey of “Jiminy Crickets” tells us a lot about how our culture influences folk language and vice versa.