punch line
See also: punchline
English
Alternative forms
- punchline, punch-line
Etymology
1910s,[1] probably American. It was probably meant to be likened to a quick, sharp punch.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpʌntʃˌlaɪn/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Noun
punch line (plural punch lines)
- The final part of a joke; the word, sentence, or exchange of sentences that is intended to be funny and provokes laughter from the listeners.
- That was quite a build-up for such a puny punch line.
- (by extension) The butt of a joke; laughing stock.
- 2023 March 31, Kevin Roose, “Google C.E.O. Sundar Pichai on the A.I. Moment: ‘You Will See Us Be Bold’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
- (It didn’t help when Microsoft relaunched its Bing search engine with OpenAI’s technology inside, instantly ending Bing’s decade-long run as a punchline.)
- (by extension) A final, concluding statement that an explanation has been leading up to; a conclusion.
Translations
final part of a joke
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final, concluding statement
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References
- “punch line”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
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