# Lids vs containers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650 "2014-06-25T21:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/1 "2014-06-25T21:59:10Z")
Why do I have three times as many lids to Ziploc/Gladware/Tupperware containers than I actually have containers? The lids go on when they go into the fridge, then are removed for serving. If I toss something old, the lid is surely still on the container when it hits the trash. They don’t give you extra lids in the packages. So why the hell do I have three times as many lids as containers in the cabinet? Are lids what missing socks mutate into? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/2 "2014-06-25T22:12:15Z")
lids are smaller and lighter and float to the top of life. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/3 "2014-06-25T22:15:32Z")
Wait a minute! I have three times as many containers as I do lids! I think we’re onto something here! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MrSBaldrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@MrSBaldrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSBaldrick)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/4 "2014-06-25T22:17:40Z")
there is some suggestion that the lids breed … but the containers are all cloned, genetically-identical females (so they can’t). ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/5 "2014-06-25T22:21:58Z")
I don’t know but I have the same problem. I just bought another pack of \ containers + lids on sale today. I have a ton of containers, but not nearly enough matching lids. WTF? I think I am fairly organized about this but I keep losing lids. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/6 "2014-06-25T22:32:04Z")
Seriously though, keeps all your lids in a separate container and keep all your containers in their own cabinet. And stack them neatly you heathen! Don’t just throw them in the cabinet all willy nilly! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/7 "2014-06-26T00:28:53Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Wait a minute! I have three times as many containers as I do lids! > I think we’re onto something here! :eek: \*♫ Here’s the story of a Doper named **Shakes** Who had extra containers in the middle kitchen drawer None of them had a lid, causing phrases like Mother… The smallest one, for smores Here’s the story of a man named **Silenus** Who was living with way too many lids of his own. All these lids cabineted all together Yet they were all alone Till the one day when the \*\*Shakes \*\*met **Silenus**. And they knew that it was much more than a hunch, That this group must somehow come to-gether & match up all of their containers for leftover lunch. Leftover lunch, leftover lunch Now they both had a way to take leftover lunch. ♫♪\* ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lids-vs-containers/691650/8 "2014-06-26T00:45:14Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > \*♫ Here’s the story of a Doper named **Shakes** > Who had extra containers in the middle kitchen drawer > None of them had a lid, causing phrases like Mother… > The smallest one, for smores > > Here’s the story of a man named **Silenus** > Who was living with way too many lids of his own. > All these lids cabineted all together > Yet they were all alone > > Till the one day when the \*\*Shakes \*\*met **Silenus**. > And they knew that it was much more than a hunch, > That this group must somehow come to-gether > & match up all of their containers for leftover lunch. > > Leftover lunch, leftover lunch > Now they both had a way to take leftover lunch. ♫♪\* Brilliant! 😃