Questions tagged [humor]

Questions about humorous expressions, jokes, puns, etc.

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10 votes
3 answers
658 views

What is the best term to categorize a lolcat image and text?

I've seen the captions described as a dialect, patois, "kitty pidgin" and language play which is well and good but doesn't get to the key visual aspect (silly/cute/adorable cats). Wikipedia offers ...
Bill Lefurgy's user avatar
  • 2,270
3 votes
1 answer
512 views

What is this form of humor called? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is there a name for this type of sentence structure: “She looks as though she's been poured into her clothes, and forgot to say 'when'”? I'm providing ...
Travis Webb's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
20k views

"After all 7 8 9" joke?

I know that it is very important to be aware of "hidden meanings" of words and phrases. (Especially if the meaning is sexual.) That is why I love Stephen Colbert's "The Word" segments and usually ...
Kostya's user avatar
  • 231
18 votes
11 answers
2k views

Colorful term for someone with a long-overdue library book [closed]

I'm trying to find a humorous term for someone who still has an overdue library book after a number of years. I first came up with "delinquent lendee", but I'm sure there's something more apropos or ...
taserian's user avatar
  • 709
10 votes
5 answers
3k views

What does humor-challenged mean?

When describing a person as humor-challenged, what does it mean?
Tim's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
2k views

Word for a false definition used for comedic effect

Is there a word for a false definition given in jest? I don't know if such a word exists, but I'm interested to know it if it does. An example of what I mean would be: Politics - a latin word ...
zzzzBov's user avatar
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16 votes
3 answers
163k views

Please explain this joke about two nuns in a bath [closed]

I've heard this joke several times, but I'm ashamed to say I really cannot understand it. It just doesn't seem to make any sense however I look at it. I have a suspicion that it is supposed to be rude,...
Urbycoz's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
258 views

Is there a term for expressions usually rendered as names but are meant to be humorous?

The expressions about which I am asking are used often on "Prairie Home Companion" when the narrator delivers a list of "fake" credits at the end of the show or at the end of a comic bit. For example,...
Dale Knight's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
18k views

What does “Stick it up one’s jumper” mean? Why is it funny?

I saw the phrase “Stick something up one’s jumper” in Jeffery Archer’s short story titled “Member’s Only,” in which Robin Chapman, the hero was kept waiting for 5 years and has to wait for another ...
Yoichi Oishi's user avatar
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18 votes
4 answers
22k views

"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 ...
Jason Kleban's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
3k views

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, ...
mudri's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is there a single word meaning "very funny book"?

Sometimes you read a book that has you convulsing with laughter from the moment you pick it up. For me, one of those books was Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. What do you call this? Perhaps there isn'...
z7sg Ѫ's user avatar
  • 13k
0 votes
3 answers
258 views

Is "driving the reins" used as a deliberately erroneous phrase?

In her blog post introducing Blog Overflow, the estimable Rebecca Chernoff committed the following, uh, sentence: Have someone driving the reigns. After cringing (read: screaming in pain) and ...
Marthaª's user avatar
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4 votes
7 answers
11k views

British and American slang words for immigrants?

What slang words or phrases do British/American English speakers use for (poor) immigrants?
Furqan's user avatar
  • 73
7 votes
3 answers
326 views

Humour through repeated use of a construct, with a final variation?

I am wondering if there is any name, or well-known example, for a humoristic construct that I particularly enjoy. It is exemplified in this monolog from Pierre Desproges, directed at a woman he was ...
F'x's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
6k views

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?
Martin's user avatar
  • 231
32 votes
5 answers
9k views

What does this mean: 'Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink'? Why is it funny?

Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water and make it drink. I read this on http://chucknorrisfacts.com. What I think this sentence means, is: Chuck Norris can take his horse to where the water is and ...
Rakesh Juyal's user avatar

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