“Sleeping with the fishes” is a mob term meaning that someone will be killed (that is, the body will be dumped in the water to “sleep with the fishes”). A joke was posted on Reddit on July 20, 2016:
“Did you hear about the potato farmer who crossed the mob? He’s sleeping with the knishes.”
“Sleep with the knishes”—without this full joke—has been cited in print since at least 1998.
Google Groups: alt.gathering.rainbow
CRUSTY SAINTED
Crusty
10/31/98
Ah Ha! Now we know who’s been destroying the forests and ruining the ecology.
Repent or face an offer you can’t refuse Morphun Micky (aka Popeye).
Sleep with the knishes.
Google Groups: alt.gathering.rainbow
Morphioso Hit
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
4/20/99
(...)
You can hide but you can’t slide.
Sleep with the knishes!
Twitter
Ed Kaz!
@EdKaz
would much rather owe money to the Jewish Mafia. Sleeping with the knishes can’t be that bad.
5:25 PM - 8 Nov 2009
Twitter
darksidedeb
@darksidedeb
#RejectedPopularSayings Sleep with the knishes.
8:52 PM - 17 Nov 2014
reddit
Did you hear about the potato farmer who crossed the mob? (self.dadjokes)
submitted July 20, 2016 by xwhy
He’s sleeping with the knishes.
The Amazingly Lame Joke of the Day
Saturday, July 23, 2016
What happened to the potato farmer who crossed the mob?
He’s sleeping with the knishes.
Posted by Tim Wycislak at 4:26 AM
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“I read old books because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“I study old buildings because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“Due to personal reasons, I’m still going to be fluffy this summer” (4/18)
•“Do not honk at me. My life is worthless. I will kill us both” (bumper sticker) (4/18)
•Entry in progress—BP16 (4/18)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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