One-liner joke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article contains weasel words, vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (June 2009)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2007)

A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. Many comedians have adopted this comedic method in their act. Some, including Rodney Dangerfield, Steven Wright, Emo Philips, Henny Youngman, Mitch Hedberg, Dan Mintz, Zach Galifianakis, Demetri Martin, Jimmy Carr and Milton Jones have used one-liners to make up a significant portion of their repertoire.

[edit] Examples

• "Big foot is blurry... that's the problem!" (Mitch Hedberg)
• "It would be funny if, while performing an abortion, someone yelled 'abort! abort!'" (Dan Mintz)
• "I have nothing to declare except my genius." (Oscar Wilde, upon arriving at US customs 1882^[1])
• "Race is just a pigment of the imagination" (Glen Highland)
• "If all those sweet young things were laid end to end – I wouldn't be a bit surprised." (Dorothy Parker, on girls attending a Yale prom^[2])
• "I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception." (Groucho Marx)
• "Take my wife – please!" (Henny Youngman)
• "The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades" (Demetri Martin)
• "If it wasn't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all." (Rodney Dangerfield)
• "Overall, I'd say my career as a photographer has been a bit of a blur." (Milton Jones)
• "Ah, nostalgia ain't what it used to be..." (English Proverb, used to mock another's reactionary opinion.)
• "Behind every great man there is a woman who thinks he is a complete idiot." (Oleg Vishnepolsky)
• "I have a map of the world... it's actual size." (Steven Wright)

[edit] See also

• Greguería
• Paraprosdokian

[edit] References