Questions tagged [humor]
Questions about humorous expressions, jokes, puns, etc.
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Amusing historical nicknames for the patent office?
I'm looking for amusing (including disparaging) nicknames for the USPTO that can be traced back to an historical primary source, including but not limited to famous inventors such as Thomas Edison or ...
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Term for a joke with a missing punchline
What do you call a joke that has a punchline which as been emphatically implied through omission, as in...
[Comedian peeling banana, saying...]
"one skin, two skin, three skin, (pregnant pause)....
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"Well paint me green and call me a cucumber! I just […]"
Well, [perform some action against me (through which I will be complacent)], and call me a [something humorous which I would then resemble]. [Sincere or feigned exclamation of a recently apparent ...
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Understanding the joke, "Make an 'ell, I say" (from The Crux)
Reading chapter 1 of The Crux, there is a joke that I don't understand about the three "Foote girls," who are in their 50s and visiting Mr. and Mrs. Lane. Here is the paragraph in question:
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Word for nonce antonyms formed by reversing idioms
Someone recently used "on-limits" to describe something that was allowed, i.e. not "off-limits." The same person subsequently described unplugging something as "plugging it ...
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What does "are nines" mean in this context?
I stumbled upon some conversation on the TV show Desperate Housewives (Season 4, Episode 10) and I do not understand what the "nines" and "a three" indicate in the following ...
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What terms describe humorous acceptance of a compliment?
My wife complimented a chef on his delicate fish cookery last night.
Reply: "They're great, these boil-in-the-bag dishes."
I complimented a violinist on his performance recently and ...
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Is there a specific term for humourous repetition where the repeated thing is only funny through context?
I've tried searching for terms relating to humourous repetition, but the only term I can find is "repetition". And that's absolutely fine, I don't mind referring to it as such if necessary, ...
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What is the first part of a joke called?
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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Where did the phrase "don't spend it all in one store" originate?
I've heard the phrase "don't spend it [money] all in one store" a number of times, virtually always in a joking manner. Where did it originate from and has it always been said as a joke?
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Term for (humorous) sentences that end in unexpected ways [duplicate]
I'm trying to find the term that refers to a certain type of joke. These jokes generally have the following characterstics:
generally only one sentence long
the first half is straightforward and ...
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What is the term for this sort of ambiguity? [duplicate]
"Scientists discover emperor penguin colony in Antarctica using satellite images"
This is the title of an article in the Guardian newspaper today.
There must be some clever penguins down ...
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Changing a quotation so that the original is recognised, but has been given a new meaning
I didn't know how to phrase my title to make it meaningful to anyone, and I can't really explain it now, so I shall use an example:
The opening phrase on the DSGB website is "It's counting, Jim, ...
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Is there a term for sentences that are hopelessly and often humorously ambiguous? (e.g. "Squad helps dog bite victim") Are there algorithms for them?
The humorous 1980 book titled Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim and Other Flubs from teh Nation's Press (AbeBooks, Goodreads)1 recently came to mind after seeing the headline
Shocking video shows Chinese ...
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What is the meaning of "Neanderthals on a day pass"? [closed]
Said as some sort of an insult I guess.
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Closest equivalent to the Chinese jocular use of 职业病 (occupational disease): job creates habits that manifest inappropriately outside work
The Chinese expression 职业病 (zhi ye bing, occupational disease), when used seriously, just means occupational disease, e.g. lung problems caused by working in a chemical factory.
But there is also a ...
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The meaning of "I am not snapping as much"
Would you please help me and tell me why did the audience laugh when they heard the speaker saying saying the following sentences? I heard them like this:
"over time I would say, actually I am ...
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What constitutes humor on this "i before e" coffee mug text? [closed]
I saw this writing on a coffee mug, which is supposedly popular amongst linguists:
i before e
Except after C
and also when you
heinously seize your
feisty foreign neighbor's
conceited beige heifer
...
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What is an example of a “clean” redivider?
Most redividers are vulgar or rude in some way, for example
therapist -> the rapist
pen island -> penis land
an album cover -> anal bum cover
I am looking for a "clean" example of ...
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Is there a word for when something rhymes with a profanity [duplicate]
I am specifically thinking of the Grand Tour episode entitled "A massive hunt". Is there a word that describes this wordplay? It is not a double-entendre, nor is it a homophone.
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Verb meaning "to alter someone's famous saying"
I'm looking for a single verb, or at least a succinct way of saying that you are slightly, but intentionally, modifying a famous phrase.
For example, if I were to refer to Alexander the Great's ...
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Better term for “intellectual jokes”
What can you call a joke, pun, or anything funny that likely needs intelligence to get?
All I can come up with is intellectual jokes; is there another word for this? A one-word answer would be great.
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Does 'droll' have a negative connotation?
I'd taken droll to mean something like drily amusing, but without any implied negativity.
But I've often heard people say
Very droll!
in response to something that they appear to find mildly amusing ...
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I want to know why this joke is supposed to be hilarious [closed]
A couple is anxiously waiting to hear the results of a medical test for their unborn child.
The doctor says: "I will start with the good news; Your child will always find a parking space."
...
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What is the humor in "water's warm and deep" while relieving oneself?
The two men halted at the edge of the canal, hiked their tunics, then
fumbled with their loincloths. Soon two arcs were gurgling across the
filmy surface. “Hmm,” Xinemus said. “The water’s warm.” Even
...
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Should I use "the John" or "the john" when referring to the slang phrase for toilet?
Should I capitalize the "j" in John when referring to a toilet as "the john." The same goes for lazy Susan and other words that are also names.
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Humorous mis-spelling of "spell checker"? [closed]
When I back a spelling mistake I tend to blame it on the spear chucker. Some get the attempt at humour, but it escapes others.
Can anyone supply a more humorous mis-spelling of "spell checker&...
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Is there a term for reversing phrases, usually for comedic effect?
For example, I say to a roommate, "I wish I could get caught up on my homework so I can start dating again," to which he replies, "I wish I could get caught up on my dating so I can start doing ...
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Meaning of "That's Easy for You to Say" in a Specific Context
Generally speaking, the phrase "That's easy for you to say" is used when one needs to say that things aren't as simple for him as some other person suggests.
The definition clearly suggests ...
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Examples of people that have really low name recogniton?
Not exactly sure how to phrase the title, but here's the sentence I'm asking about:
Our job? Somehow get XXXXX, (a candidate with less name recognition than _____ ) to the top of the polls.
I was ...
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"...Batman is the personality-shelf where Bruce Wayne stores the crazy-plates..." - is this just a metaphor, or is it something else?
In this article on Cracked.com, I discovered this gem of a phrase:
...Batman is the personality-shelf where Bruce Wayne stores the crazy-plates...
...and I thought it was a fantastic phrase. Then ...
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Is there a word or phrase for using overspecific, incorrect language intentionally?
A comedian I like calls vampires "Draculas", with the specificity as well as the incorrectness (there is only one Dracula, but many vampires) being a source of humor. Is there a word for ...
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How would a native speaker react to the proverbial phrase: "Life is lethal"?
Would it sound completely wrong?
Would it be understood humoristically?
Would "deadly" be better?
It's an attempt to translate the humoristic German sentence:
Das Leben ist tödlich.
I often ...
CommunityBot
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Where is the word play in this dialog?
I'm trying to figure out the word play behind this dialog (it is taken from A Bit of Fry and Laurie show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaqZpcPEZEY):
Good morning.
Right. Can I help you?
Yes, ...
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Couldn't understand the humour
Gandhi went in his loincloth to Buckingham Palace and met the king. Later, when somebody asked him if he felt that was proper, Gandhi replied: "The king had enough for both of us."
Full article: ...
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Is there an expression that describes looking for something that probably isn't there, or looking in unlikely places for a solution [duplicate]
I am looking for an idiom or phrase that describes, in a humorous or funny way, the act of looking for something that probably isnt't there, or the act of looking for a solution in a place where it is ...
CommunityBot
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What do you call faking to speak a foreign language?
You can watch examples of this in the following Danny Kaye video that compiles scenes from several of his movies:
Fan Tribute - Danny Kaye: Master of Many Many Tongues...Indeed
Or in Chaplin's "The ...
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What is the 'evident pun' in Moonchild?
Recently, a friend sent me this passage from Aleister Crowley's 1917 novel Moonchild:
“Dinner was served; the Poltergeist supplied the conversation. Never before had he been so light, so genial, so ...
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Meaning of the joke about the fish and the dam [closed]
There is the joke.
-What did the fish say when he ran into the wall?
-Dam.
Could someone explain it to me, please?
As far as I can tell the joke is all about the intended pun: the dam sounds similar ...
CommunityBot
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word similar to obfuscation, used for comedy
there is a word, or perhaps a type of comedy, where simple things are described using terms that are correct but needlessly complicated or absurd for various effects. I am reminded by comics from ...
CommunityBot
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Phrase for criticism/insults concealed with humor
Passive aggressive people will sometimes veil insulting, critical, derogatory or generally aggressive comments with humor. The patina of humor makes the comment seem like a joke, not to be taken ...
CommunityBot
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Is there a specific word for a humorous device wherein after a reaction, more information changes the meaning of the phrase
I found it hard to summarise this in the title, and I thought a few examples would illustrate what I mean best:
"Well known local celebrities include Alan Bennett and Barry Cryer" (lead up)
...
CommunityBot
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Question for an aggressive humor : You can't unload a truckload of bowling balls with a pitchfork
I found an humor while reading an essay. But I can't understand the reason why it is funny. Does it need some background knowledge to understand it? I know only it is a kind of sick humor. Could you ...
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Is there a name for this specific category of humor?
I've attempted a few searches, but the terminology escapes me. Is there a simple term or phrase that defines this type of humor? I don't think it's redirected comedy but suspect the word "literal" may ...
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What is a word that means contrary and funny
I am trying to describe my sense of humor to be contrary and funny, a bit silly and irreverent (not choosing between 2 choices but making my own choice), and not disrespectfully so. I thought about "...
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Best word for blunt, honest humor where you say something shocking to get a laugh?
What's the best word for the type of humor where you state something very honestly and bluntly with the intent to be a little shocking and a little humorous? Potentially because people don't expect a ...
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Out on a tear last night - meaning?
I've bumped into a great pun from the Marx Brothers' Night at the Opera (transcript)
I didn't get the reference/joke/idiom on "out on a tear last night".
Fiorello: No, that's no good, too. (they ...
CommunityBot
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What is “warm and flat water”?
I heard the expression 'warm and flat water' in the British film when someone gives another water saying
There you go, warm and flat.
I was told that I can use 'flat drink' to the drinks in ...
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What is funny in this paraprosdokian?
I was reading the wiki page about paraprosdokians when I come across this sentence.
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas, how he got in my pajamas, I don't know.
What is funny about it?
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Is the phrase "Take my wife – please!" a paraprosdokian?
I was reading the wiki page about paraprosdokians and I don't understand why the phrase:
Take my wife – please!
is classified as one.
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