51³Ō¹Ļ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

punch line

noun

  1. the climactic phrase or sentence in a joke, speech, advertisement, or humorous story that produces the desired effect.



punch line

noun

  1. the culminating part of a joke, funny story, etc, that gives it its humorous or dramatic point

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of punch line1

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Just don’t have Palmer play Jar Jar Binks’ father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate, please, because Dark Helmet already spent that punch line on Lone Starr back in 1987.

From

But here’s the punch line: Target’s sales have cratered, at least in part because consumers were angry about its reversals.

From

Bronny James has been their most improved player simply by morphing from a punch line into, well, a player.

From

That is until Curtis has a sucker punch line of dialogue that follows: ā€œI know babies taste the best.ā€

From

So much of life doesn’t have a punch line, and in music you can be more confessional because you’re not saying, ā€œHi, I’m Mae, and I’m saying this about this particular incident in my life.ā€

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


punching bagpunch list