Meaning of punch line | Babel Free

Definitions

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.
2. The butt of a joke; laughing stock.
   broadly
3. A final, concluding statement that an explanation has been leading up to; a conclusion.
   broadly

Equivalents

Examples

“That was quite a build-up for such a puny punch line.”

“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⟳.”

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

“(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.)”

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

CEFR level