punch line

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)

1. 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.

   • 2014 August 20, Matthew Jenkin, “Why language learners don't have to miss the punchline”, in The Guardian‎:

     While explaining a punchline might initially kill the joke, Roberts claims it can shed light on the use of humour in language and help students remember the gag for future use.

2. (by extension) The butt of a joke; laughing stock.
   • 2019 July 8, Tom Dart, “The US men's team are now a punchline. Which is a little unfair”, in The Guardian‎:

     The women are a phenomenon; the men are a punchline.

   • 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.)

3. (by extension) A final, concluding statement that an explanation has been leading up to; a conclusion.
   • 2014 July 14, Philip Oltermann, “World Cup final press reaction: Germany’s win a ‘fitting punchline’”, in The Guardian‎:

     The final, the Munich-based liberal newspaper writes, was a “fitting punchline” to a great tournament.

References