# Why does Polly want a cracker?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 12, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261 "2003-06-12T02:16:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/1 "2003-06-12T02:16:26Z")
For some reason, when people meet my parrot, they call him Polly and ask him if he wants a cracker.
Now why would they do a silly thing like that?
Where did this phrase come from?
---
### Author:  [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/2 "2003-06-12T06:00:04Z")
Well, what does the parrot say about it?
---
### Author:  [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/3 "2003-06-12T06:22:13Z")
Association of the name “Polly” with parrots goes way back. [Phrase finder contributors](http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/8/messages/77.html) found a reference going back to 1616.
They suggest, also, that “Polly wants a cracker” is baby talk, originally.
---
### Author:  [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/4 "2003-06-12T06:59:43Z")
Because he’s hungry. Duh.
---
### Author:  [@j\_kat\_251](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_kat_251)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/5 "2003-06-12T07:34:42Z")
Maybe you should get off her first?
---
### Author:  [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/6 "2003-06-12T07:37:56Z")
Maybe she wants some water…
---
### Author:  [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/7 "2003-06-12T08:07:45Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by moriah \*
> \*\*Well, what does the parrot say about it? \*\*
I think I can only use **that** phrase in The Pit. 😉
---
### Author:  [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/8 "2003-06-12T14:26:02Z")
okay, is this secretly a thread about nirvana?
---
### Author:  [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/9 "2003-06-12T14:30:27Z")
maybe i should untie her
---
### Author:  [@ElectroSunDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElectroSunDog)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/10 "2003-06-12T15:41:15Z")
BigDaddy (one of my cockatiels) dosen’t just eat a cracker…he practically DESTROYS it in one bite. That’s a lot considering cockatiels have a beak the size of a computer key.
---
### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-polly-want-a-cracker/181261/11 "2003-06-12T16:26:35Z")
According to Raymond Lewenthal, “As tu dejeuner, Jaco?” is the French equivalent. (“Have you eaten well, Jaco?”)
Trinopus