punchline

Everyday

1. The last line or words of a joke, which make it funny: «Wait for the punchline!» tree →
2. The surprising or important ending of a story, speech or advert. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons and everyday fun it is the payoff of a joke; comedians practise timing the punchline. In writing, a strong ending is sometimes called the punchline. Phrases: «deliver the punchline», «forget the punchline», «get the punchline».

Examples

• He forgot the punchline, so nobody laughed. tree →
• The punchline of the joke is «Lettuce in, it's cold out here!» tree →
• Wait for it, the punchline is coming. tree →
• She delivered the punchline perfectly and the whole class laughed. tree →
• I didn't get the punchline until my sister explained it. tree →
• The story's punchline was that the ghost was the dog all along. tree →

Note

Countable: punchline, punchlines. Also written «punch line» or «punch-line». Do not give away the punchline before the joke is told. «Get the punchline» means understand why it is funny.