crack a joke — to tell a joke or say something funny
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to tell a joke or say something funny
Pronunciation (IPA): /kræk ə dʒoʊk/
Example Sentences
- My dad always cracks the same old joke about my cooking: 'Is the fire department on speed dial?'
- The CEO tried to crack a joke about the budget cuts, but nobody laughed.
- She has a talent for cracking jokes at exactly the right moment to ease tension.
crack a joke
NOUN[/kræk ə dʒoʊk/]
to tell a joke or say something funny
He cracked a joke and the whole table burst out laughing.
Crack a joke, then give the mic a playful poke!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'crack' originally denoted a sharp, snapping sound in Middle English. From the 16th century onwards, its meaning expanded to describe speaking quickly and sharply, eventually coming to express the delivery of jokes in a swift and witty manner.
Breakdown
crack (sharp sound; quick speech) + joke (a witty remark or humorous story). The compound 'crack a joke' combines the verb 'crack' (to deliver briskly) with 'joke' (humorous utterance).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad always cracks the same old joke about my cooking: 'Is the fire department on speed dial?'”
“The CEO tried to crack a joke about the budget cuts, but nobody laughed.”
“She has a talent for cracking jokes at exactly the right moment to ease tension.”
“I tried to crack a joke about unemployment, but it didn't work out.”
📚Related Words
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