--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went down the street to the 24-hour…" description: "\"I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, 'Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours.'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/steven-wright-432_front-door_i-went-down-the-street-to-the-24-hour-gr_1858541.jpg" --- # I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got… ![“I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, 'Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours.' He said, 'Yes, but not in a row.'” quote by Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/steven-wright-432_front-door_i-went-down-the-street-to-the-24-hour-gr_1858541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/steven-wright-432_front-door_i-went-down-the-street-to-the-24-hour-gr_1858541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/steven-wright-432_front-door_i-went-down-the-street-to-the-24-hour-gr_1858541.jpg) > “I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, 'Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours.' He said, 'Yes, but not in a row.'” [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous observation about the literal interpretation of “24‑hour” and the absurdity of a shop being closed despite the sign. **In simple terms:** A joke about a 24‑hour store being closed. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and enjoy the irony. Themes humor language absurdity Mood playful lighthearted Type anecdotal comedic When to use this quote - night shift workers - store owners - customers - signage designers Key Concepts literalism irony semantic play Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever encounter literal misunderstandings? - How does humor reveal hidden assumptions? A Different Perspective The joke relies on a specific cultural understanding of “24‑hour” meaning always open. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [24 hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/24-hours/) [Door Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door-said/) [Front door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-door/) [Grocery Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grocery-got-2486666/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Hour Grocery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-grocery-2486665/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Hours Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-said-2486667/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) ## Related quotes > [“I went down to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, 'Hey, the sign says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-down-to-the-24-hour-grocery-when-i-got-there-the-guy-was/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“You know, surprisingly, they don't sell a lot of brains in the local 24-hour grocery store around the corner from my house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-fischer/you-know-surprisingly-they-don-t-sell-a-lot-of-brains-in-the-local-24/) [Rusty Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-fischer/) > [“You got pretty popular for a while there.' 'For about forty-eight hours,' I said. 'Just long enough to figure out that I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-auch/you-got-pretty-popular-for-a-while-there-for-about-forty-eight-hours/) [M.J. Auch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-auch/) > [“...As we locked the front door behind us, she said, "How do you keep getting in without my knowing it? Did Jill give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/as-we-locked-the-front-door-behind-us-she-said-how-do-you-keep/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [“Will, my darling, my angel, the light of my life - I'm actually relieved you're gay. You really weren't all that excited about women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/will-my-darling-my-angel-the-light-of-my-life-i-m-actually-relieved/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [“There’s always a secret door,” I said. “That’s why you always need a thief in your party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/there-s-always-a-secret-door-i-said-that-s-why-you-always-need-a/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“We think that behind that steel door of resistance there’s a dragon breathing fire; if we open the door we think we’ll be devoured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-cushnir/we-think-that-behind-that-steel-door-of-resistance-there-s-a-dragon/) [Raphael Cushnir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-cushnir/) > [As he closed the door he said over his shoulder, "Because you're a good lass." A heavy sigh. "And I'm no' a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/as-he-closed-the-door-he-said-over-his-shoulder-because-you-re-a-good/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“But Mor hopped off the bed, opened the door for me, and said, “There are good days and hard days for me—even now. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-mor-hopped-off-the-bed-opened-the-door-for-me-and-said-there-are/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“As she lifted her own backpack over the side of the black, heavy-duty dodge pickup, Owen took it out of her hands and set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-johnston/as-she-lifted-her-own-backpack-over-the-side-of-the-black-heavy-duty/) [Joan Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-johnston/) > [I take back everything I ever said about that boy being clever." He turned around to face the bar while leveling an accusatory finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-take-back-everything-i-ever-said-about-that-boy-being-clever-he/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“There were two doors that opened off the hallway. The doors were labeled PUSSY and MOTHERFUCKERS. "I'm taking the Motherfuckers door," I said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/there-were-two-doors-that-opened-off-the-hallway-the-doors-were/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [While growing up we all did our own work' I remember, we had a sign on our bathroom door which said 'Gandhiji cleaned his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/while-growing-up-we-all-did-our-own-work-i-remember-we-had-a-sign-on/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“Thorin spoke: "Let us try the door! he said. "I must feel the wind on my face soon or die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/thorin-spoke-let-us-try-the-door-he-said-i-must-feel-the-wind-on-my/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“Lowell's cubicle at the office was slightly larger than a toilet stall, but no higher, and although the door said MANAGING EDITOR, Lowell always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-davis/lowell-s-cubicle-at-the-office-was-slightly-larger-than-a-toilet/) [L.J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-davis/) ## More by Steven Wright > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-i-ever-had-twins-i-d-use-one-for-parts/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Nobody can really compare a relationship in which the victim is 15 years old to one where she's 6. While both criminal, they're very different circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/nobody-can-really-compare-a-relationship-in-which-the-victim-is-15/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I saw a tree fall in the woods, and I didn't hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-saw-a-tree-fall-in-the-woods-and-i-didn-t-hear-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I don't like politicians, and I don't like politics. I definitely don't want to be associated with any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-don-t-like-politicians-and-i-don-t-like-politics-i-definitely-don-t/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of an Ouija board. You'd think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-to-this-restaurant-last-night-that-was-set-up-like-a-big/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) [Explore all 564 Steven Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## More 24 hours quotes > [Man: You are all going to live... (Smith family cheers) Man: ... for 24 more hours. Which is just enough time for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-dad/man-you-are-all-going-to-live-smith-family-cheers-man-for-24-more/) [American Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-dad/) > [Discipline is the whole key to being successful. We all get 24 hours each day. That's the only fair thing; it's the only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-huff/discipline-is-the-whole-key-to-being-successful-we-all-get-24-hours/) [Sam Huff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-huff/) > [It's funny because I grew up with the T.V. on 24 hours a day. And the more money I made, the more T.V.s we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/it-s-funny-because-i-grew-up-with-the-t-v-on-24-hours-a-day-and-the/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [24 hours a day, I'm thinking about what we can do with this artist, what I can do myself over here, and how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-park/24-hours-a-day-i-m-thinking-about-what-we-can-do-with-this-artist/) [Jay Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-park/) > [I don't stress at all. When other people say, 'I'm having a bad day,' I ask, 'How can you have a bad day for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cloris-leachman/i-don-t-stress-at-all-when-other-people-say-i-m-having-a-bad-day-i/) [Cloris Leachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cloris-leachman/) > [There's some people that are 24 hours with the baby and it doesn't make a difference. They could be anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/there-s-some-people-that-are-24-hours-with-the-baby-and-it-doesn-t/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [If you think people are inherently good, you get rid of the police for 24 hours - see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-you-think-people-are-inherently-good-you-get-rid-of-the-police-for/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [If you are you, 24 hours a day, then you do not have to remember who you are supposed to be in different situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dixon/if-you-are-you-24-hours-a-day-then-you-do-not-have-to-remember-who/) [Bill Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dixon/) > [The most important preliminary to the task of arranging one's life so that one may live fully and comfortably within one's daily budget of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-most-important-preliminary-to-the-task-of-arranging-one-s-life-so/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [It's quite a job, so to speak, when you can really be with your child for 21 out of 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-macmaster/it-s-quite-a-job-so-to-speak-when-you-can-really-be-with-your-child/) [Natalie MacMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-macmaster/) > [“24 hours was not enough to savor all the beauty of her soul, the heart has the words with every pulse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houssami/24-hours-was-not-enough-to-savor-all-the-beauty-of-her-soul-the-heart/) [Sam Houssami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houssami/) > [The BBC, during its 24 hours on the air, plays a very wide range of stuff. And it's not commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/the-bbc-during-its-24-hours-on-the-air-plays-a-very-wide-range-of/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [If you are sitting on top of the world, remember it turns over every 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-you-are-sitting-on-top-of-the-world-remember-it-turns-over-every/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“There are 24 hours in a day, but my day is never complete without at least an hour of your time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-joshua/there-are-24-hours-in-a-day-but-my-day-is-never-complete-without-at/) [Timothy Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-joshua/) > [Before you go to sleep, do not forget to say thanks for everything good that has happened to you in the last 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/before-you-go-to-sleep-do-not-forget-to-say-thanks-for-everything/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) [Browse all 195 24 hours quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/24-hours/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. 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