# Explain this joke: "The rabbit got better"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 21, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364 "2007-11-21T20:50:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/41 "2007-11-22T09:55:48Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]
There’s also Joan River’s movie [Rabbit Test](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078133/), about the first pregnant man.
[/QUOTE]
FTM, there was an Erma Bombeck-a-like book titled [I Should Have Seen It Coming When the Rabbit Died](http://www.amazon.com/Should-Have-Seen-Coming-Rabbit/dp/0553236865/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195725212&sr=8-1).
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### Author:  [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/42 "2007-11-22T10:31:25Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic]
In what version of reality is this even remotely appropriate?
[/QUOTE]
Relax, dude… I’m Jewish and Israeli, and I have people here at work looking at me all funny-like, 'cos I’m cracking up… 😃
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/43 "2007-11-22T10:42:18Z")
Larry had been going to marry a rabbit that had a personality disorder however after a course of therapy the rabbit realised that Larry was not the man of her dreams and pulled out of the wedding.
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### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/44 "2007-11-22T11:47:39Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton]
However, the cliche “The rabbit died” is pure UL. Back when they used to do [the rabbit test,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_test) the rabbit **always** died. There was no other way to get the results.
Well, there was in theory – you could surgically remove the rabbit’s ovaries to examine their reaction to the woman’s urine without killing the rabbit – but few doctors would go to the trouble. That was the basis of a _M.A.S.H._ plot, once: Hot-Lips Houlihan was concerned her husband might have gotten her pregnant (and she was already having serious doubts about the marriage, to say nothing of what this would mean for her precious Army career). Radar had a pet female hamster or guinea pig, who could be used for a test, but he was loath to sacrifice her. Finally Hawkeye and B.J. offered to do the test, and an ovariectomy, without killing the animal. They succeeded, and HLH was knot knocked up – happy ending all around (save for that poor little animal now forever deprived of her chance at motherhood).
[/QUOTE]
You don’t like reading a series of thread posts before you answer, do you? 😃
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/45 "2007-11-22T12:10:23Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut]
Interestingly, one of the friends I asked is in her 60s or 70s, and she didn’t get the rabbit joke.
[/QUOTE]
That’s odd. I’m 62, and I can’t imagine anyone her age not getting the joke. “The rabbit died” was a very common euphemism for ascertaining one’s pregnancy.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/46 "2007-11-22T13:15:29Z")
Snopes? You send 'em to Snopes? Hmpfh, just Hmpfh: [Straight Dope Classic: In old-time pregnancy tests, did the rabbit really die?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970704.html)
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### Author:  [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/47 "2007-11-22T13:47:11Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
It’s a reference to the Borat movie.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks Dio! I figured BG’s comment was a reference I was not getting. Glad I didn’t storm off to the Pit. I didn’t buy Jim’s explanation but yours fits.
[/hijack] sorry
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/48 "2007-11-22T17:10:41Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven]
Snopes? You send 'em to Snopes? Hmpfh, just Hmpfh: [Straight Dope Classic: In old-time pregnancy tests, did the rabbit really die?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a970704.html)
[/QUOTE]
See Post #27
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/49 "2007-11-22T17:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl]
I’m 21 and I get it, but I watch a lot of M_A_S\*H, so I’m used to dated references. Plus I’m weird.
[/QUOTE]
I just asked - my brother got it too. Maybe you’re both weird 😃
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-the-rabbit-got-better/427364/50 "2007-11-22T17:14:17Z")
Heh, thread cleared up a series of pop-culture references that has mildly bugged me for years.
The pregnancy test thing, not the Nazi test thing. 😛
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