How does one refer to the first part of a joke?
The follow up is often referred to as a punchline but I'm unsure how to refer to the first part. Is it a 'joke' or does a 'joke' include the punchline?
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1I usually use the term "run-up".– James WebsterJul 13, 2012 at 12:22
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16Related: in a comedy team, the run-up or set-up delivered by a straight-man is called a straightline (which, incidentally, is the shortest distance between two puns).– Chris CudmoreJul 13, 2012 at 17:34
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@ChrisCudmore bravo.– Joel AnairNov 4, 2014 at 18:23
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I think "rising action" would be suitable. It's a literary reference and ties into "risible". Of course, that's me projecting where there is established terminology.– Paul RoweDec 9, 2015 at 18:03
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2 Answers
The first part of the joke is the setup, a general question or observation which offers an opportunity to give the punchline in response.
The joke is the setup and punchline combined, as either on its own is not inherently funny, in contrast to a one-liner. To the setup and punchline may also be added tags, additional punchlines using the same setup, and toppers, additional punchlines which use the entire earlier joke as a setup.
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3A punchline by itself might be inherently funny if the joke is based on the lack of context (i.e. an orphaned punchline)– GarethJul 15, 2012 at 9:38
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5I love how this proves that EVERYONE gets sidetracked (from real work at overflow or superuser) by the 'somewhat related but definitely from a different stack exchange site' side panel. Don't get me wrong, though; I love how the next generation of coders will have a substantial appreciation of english and UX!!!– lolFeb 19, 2014 at 21:15
Set-up is what professional comics/writers call it. Here in the UK some also call it a feedline as opposed to punchline.
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14I believe 'feedline' is only used of a setup delivered by a different person than the punchline. Jul 13, 2012 at 17:18