The Collaborative International Dictionary
punch line \punch" line`\, n.
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The final sentence, phrase, or word in a joke or humorous story that is unexpected and produces the humorous effect; the point of a joke. [WordNet sense 1]
Syn: laugh line, gag line, tag line.
Hence: The final sentence, phrase, or word in any narration, speech, or advertisement that produces the speaker's intended effect.
Wiktionary
n. 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 More generally, a final, conclude statement that an explanation has been lead up to.
WordNet
n. the point of a joke or humorous story [syn: laugh line, gag line, tag line]
Wikipedia
A punch line ("punch-line" or punchline) concludes a joke; it is intended to make people laugh. It is the third and final part of the typical joke structure. It follows the introductory framing of the joke and the narrative which sets up for the punch line.
In a broader sense punch line can also refer to the unexpected and funny conclusion of any performance, situation or story.
Punch line is a joke component.
Punch line or punchline may also refer to:
- Punch line (ice hockey), a famous ice hockey line consisting of Toe Blake, Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard
- Punchline (band), a pop punk band from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, that formed in 1998
- Punchline (album), the second album from the band Punchline
- Punchline (company), a video game developer
- Punchline (film), a 1988 American film written and directed by David Seltzer
- Punchline (rapper), longtime partner of rapper Wordsworth
- "Punchline" (song), an instrumental song written by Brian Wilson and released on the Good Vibrations box set
- Punchline Comedy Club, a comedy club in Georgia, USA
- Punchlines, a British comedy game show
- Punchline (anime), a Japanese anime television series produced by MAPPA
The Punch line was a famous ice hockey line for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s. It consisted of Elmer Lach at center, Toe Blake on left wing, and Maurice Richard on the right side.
During their time together, they led the Canadiens to two Stanley Cup victories. During the 1944–45 NHL season, the three finished first (Lach), second (Richard), and third (Blake) in scoring for the league. They would also form the forward line for the first all-star team in that same season. Richard would be the first team all-star right wing for all but one year while with Blake and Lach.
is a Japanese anime television series directed by Yutaka Uemura and produced by MAPPA with scripts by Kotaro Uchikoshi, music by Tetsuya Komuro, and character designs by Shōta Iwasaki. The series aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina block between April 9, 2015 and June 25, 2015 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The series is licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks. A video game adaptation developed by 5pb. was released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on April 28, 2016 in Japan. A manga, titled Punch Line Max, taking place after the anime series, is published by Kadokawa Corporation in Dengeki G's Comic starting Sep 30, 2015. It is illustrated by Ginichi, and is based on an original idea by Uchikoshi.
Usage examples of "punch line".
Tonight with Sue as an attentive audience, he never missed the punch line, never failed to emphasize a climax articulately, and never wanted for an appreciative laugh.
It was a joking skit lacking a punch line, though the cues for laughter were right there on the page: CUE LAUGH.
He grinned and fell into step and told me a fast and quite funny honeymooner joke, timing the punch line just as we reached Larry's door.
He stared at her, waiting for the punch line, but she didn't even look at him.
Shennan's girlfriend was staring at him limpidly, waiting for the punch line, and I knew he had told this story, which by now I remembered perfectly, many times before.
He laughed until the punch line sucker-punched him--then he froze.
She built him a fresh Vodka Collins and laughed at the punch line.