absurd:
comedian:
A man or a woman who makes a living by being funny. It is a comedian's job to tell jokes and get people giggling.
comic relief:
A funny moment in a play or show that breaks up a very serious scene. Comic relief comes just in the nick of time when everything seems to be very tense and just too serious.
funny bone:
Ever hear someone say they are going to tickle your funny bone? Well, they aren't actually going to tickle a bone in your body. They mean they are going to make you laugh. Your funny bone is your sense of humor.
funnyman:
A funnyman is just that, a man who is funny. Sometimes a comedian will be introduced to his audience with this title. One famous funnyman is Robin Williams. Of course, there are funnywomen too!
gag:
A prank or joke that makes people laugh. Sometimes a comedian will have a running gag in the show (that means the same gag will be repeated over and over again). Running gags can also be part of television shows, movies, and plays.
guffaw:
A loud burst of uncontrollable laughter. If you're watching a movie that has many funny things happening, you might not be able to control your laughter. That's when you are likely to guffaw!
ham actor:
A performer who likes a lot of attention while on stage. Ham actors love to show off by overacting and using exaggerated gestures.
hilarious:
Something that makes you laugh so hard you can't control yourself. You just keep laughing and laughing. Anything or anyone can be hilarious!
jest:
Not being serious. Sometimes a jest is a playful remark or a prank. In the Middle Ages, a jester was someone who worked at the king's court to entertain royalty.
palindrome:
A word, sentence, or number that reads the same backward and forward. For example, the number 13531 is a palindrome. So is the name Bob.
parody:
A play, sometimes a musical, that is meant to be very funny and often makes fun of something.
pun:
A word or joke that is a play on words and may have two or more meanings. All knock-knock jokes are puns.
punch line:
A punch line has nothing to do with anyone punching. It is actually the funniest — or punchiest — part of a joke. Usually the punch line comes at the end of the joke. Ever listen to a long joke only to find out that the punch line wasn't so funny after all? That's no fun!
shtick:
A show-business word that means a comedian's routine. Most comedians have a certain type of act that they do much of the time. Comedians go on tour to do their shtick.
side-splitting:
Have you ever laughed so hard you thought you'd just bust? That's where the term “side-splitting” comes from. Side-splitting laughter is the type of laughter that takes over your whole body.
skit:
A short and funny play. A class might write a skit for a school performance. Sometimes a show will be made up of a few different skits.
slapstick:
A type of physical comedy with a lot of horseplay. The Three Stooges — Larry, Moe, and Curly — are famous for their slapstick routines. Slapstick is also used to describe an instrument made of two flat pieces of wood that are fastened together to make a striking sound. Sometimes comedians will use this instrument in their routines.
spoof:
A light and playful way of making fun of something. You might see a television show, a movie, or a play that's a spoof, or even read a story that spoofs something or someone.
vaudeville:
A staged performance including a lot of different types of acts. There could be singing, dancing, comedy, acrobats, and even animal tricks. Everyone loves a good vaudeville show!
whimsical:
Light or funny. Many things are whimsical. For example, knock-knock jokes are pretty whimsical! Stage-acting with a lot of clowning around is pretty whimsical too.
witty:
Something that is clever or amusing. A witty statement will impress people or give them a good chuckle.
