Redefining misanthropy for a fresh generation. Standard posts begin with a definition from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary followed by a modern adjustment. Miscellany on Wednesday and storytelling on Saturday.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Pun
PUN, n. A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire.
Minka...I prefer to believe that I politely stepped aside (fearing your wrath and an especially heavy suitcase perhaps made even heavier for retribution sake.)
Pun: The common language of my family and friends.
Here's a punny quote from a book one such friend recommended...
Expectations is the place you must always go to before you get to where you're going. Of course, some people never go beyond Expectations, but my job is to hurry them along whether they like it or not.
Doug is a bachelor 'cause he hopes to avoid issues.
(Don't know who I'm paraphrasing there.)
I love Oscar Wilde, and he was the king of puns. But perhaps Oscar Levant defined it best : "A pun is the lowest form of humor -- when you didn't think of it first." And I rarely do.
TLP: the hell you talkin' 'bout girl? pretty sure some of the best lines to appear in these comment sections have been dispezzed by you. (and don't get me started on your last couple of posts!) ; )
agree with you on Oscar Wilde, tho' Groucho Marx deserves pun or two nods, as well. that said, one of my favorite punny quotes was by Dorothy Parker: You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.
(i know i've used that one here before, but it's so good, it bears repunning.)
Nobody knows the truffles I've seen. Seven days without chocolate makes one weak. Nothing dentured, nothing gained. Shucking Fit! I'm getting my muds wordled!
no, Monika, still a Hungarian having problem with two languages. :-P
well, Doug, who does a leader fight more with than his own people? Alexander The Great could have discovered America hadn't his people been so impatient...
Humpty D. Oglethorpe was having a grand old time, sitting on his wall saying what words meant, neither more nor less, when his tongue tripped over a gerund, and he lost his balance and fell!
The Kingsmen summoned a surgeon, whose sad duty it was to pronounce Oglethorpe a remain.
As they were carrying him off (he couldn't remain there, naturally), he spoke to the attending EMT.
"Shame, this. He could have lived a long and productive life if he'd only had that appundectomy."
To quote my favorite witty, smart person, who generally says it best: (especially when I can't think of anything pithy to say)
"...no circumstances, however dismal, will ever be considered a sufficient excuse for the admission of that last and saddest evidence of intellectual poverty, the Pun." - Mark Twain, a Biography
*Still Groaning* In my family the pun is the norm and it is my job to groan...and I might add that I do it well. *whisper* Secretly...well no longer a secret I suppose...I love a good pun...or is it that I love the punsters?
*looks around, to her left...clear...to her right....pushes Joel out of her way and runs for it*
ReplyDeletethe guys Hannibal was fighting with so long and so hopeless?
ReplyDelete*bends down and picks up an "H" and hands it to Ariel* Being French today?
ReplyDeleteThis morning my car, Prince Otto Dumbledore I, misbehaved appallingly...could give any queen a bad heir day!
*Groan*
ReplyDeleteMinka...I prefer to believe that I politely stepped aside (fearing your wrath and an especially heavy suitcase perhaps made even heavier for retribution sake.)
ReplyDeletethis is the poorest form of bloke
ReplyDeletenupfj: married in Fiji
i may be a wanton woman, but that doesn't mean i was wantin' to pun up with somethin' punny today...
ReplyDeletepuntheless, i'll give it some thought, and try to pun back later. ; )
~snups
So how would the definition apply to say pundits?
ReplyDeleteWell done, Minka. Not on topic but timely.
ReplyDeleteHaniibal was fighting for them, Ariel. Was he the founder of Pungary?
My point, exactly, Minka.
Wait, Mo'a. It's early yet.
Joel, gracious as a heavywait.
Er, Nessa.
Karma, a poor bloke is a rich man's joke and a rich man is destiny's.
Neva, this is kinda your day. I'm expecting brilliance at some point.
Joel, it gives them something to say while they're talking.
Pun: The common language of my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteHere's a punny quote from a book one such friend recommended...
Expectations is the place you must always go to before you get to where you're going. Of course, some people never go beyond Expectations, but my job is to hurry them along whether they like it or not.
Could I claim to be somewhere in between?
ReplyDeletePun: two for the price of fun. Get it? Two for the ...
See ya later.
surely you know it's not that easy to perform punder pressure, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteG: HAHAHA. i got it, and thought it was punderful. get it? punder... oh forget it. ; )
Doug is a bachelor 'cause he hopes to avoid issues.
ReplyDelete(Don't know who I'm paraphrasing there.)
I love Oscar Wilde, and he was the king of puns. But perhaps Oscar Levant defined it best : "A pun is the lowest form of humor -- when you didn't think of it first." And I rarely do.
Doug, is there a particular reason you picked today to punish us?
ReplyDeleteTLP: the hell you talkin' 'bout girl? pretty sure some of the best lines to appear in these comment sections have been dispezzed by you. (and don't get me started on your last couple of posts!) ; )
ReplyDeleteagree with you on Oscar Wilde, tho' Groucho Marx deserves pun or two nods, as well. that said, one of my favorite punny quotes was by Dorothy Parker: You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.
(i know i've used that one here before, but it's so good, it bears repunning.)
Nobody knows the truffles I've seen. Seven days without chocolate makes one weak. Nothing dentured, nothing gained.
ReplyDeleteShucking Fit! I'm getting my muds wordled!
Pun: The first syllable of punishable, as in "punishable by death".
ReplyDeleteno, Monika, still a Hungarian having problem with two languages. :-P
ReplyDeletewell, Doug, who does a leader fight more with than his own people? Alexander The Great could have discovered America hadn't his people been so impatient...
Humpty D. Oglethorpe was having a grand old time, sitting on his wall saying what words meant, neither more nor less, when his tongue tripped over a gerund, and he lost his balance and fell!
ReplyDeleteThe Kingsmen summoned a surgeon, whose sad duty it was to pronounce Oglethorpe a remain.
As they were carrying him off (he couldn't remain there, naturally), he spoke to the attending EMT.
"Shame, this. He could have lived a long and productive life if he'd only had that appundectomy."
Dorothy Parker's always a good woman to pun upon
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I can only think of puns when I'm anxious and then they come punning out. Bad but puns
To quote my favorite witty, smart person, who generally says it best: (especially when I can't think of anything pithy to say)
ReplyDelete"...no circumstances, however dismal, will ever be considered a sufficient excuse for the admission of that last and saddest evidence of intellectual poverty, the Pun."
- Mark Twain, a Biography
Sar, I can see that. You do love a pun.
ReplyDeleteHaha, g. Today will be a day for groaning. Mo'a was just a little early.
Keep'em coming, Neva. It's your day.
So far so good, blogmama.
Because you drove too fast, Quill.
Neva, would you believe my mother first told me that Dorothy Parker pun?
Ariel, I'd be a West Bactrian.
Amoeba! Nice division!
Pia, there are no good but puns.
Thankfully, Terry, Twain doesn't read this site that I know of. All in!
honestly? i would believe Dorothy Parker was your mother.
ReplyDeletejust sayin'...Dorothy was capable of appreciating a rhinestone in the rough. i'm bettin' your mom is, too. ; )
Wit's elba? Isn't that where the funny bone would be?
ReplyDeleteDoug, you have avoided mirage so far, but usually one lurks on the horizon, in a dry climate.
ReplyDelete*Still Groaning* In my family the pun is the norm and it is my job to groan...and I might add that I do it well.
ReplyDelete*whisper* Secretly...well no longer a secret I suppose...I love a good pun...or is it that I love the punsters?
Neva, it's funny you should say that. My mom used to call my father her "zircon in the rough" and that was before the divorce.
ReplyDeleteHobbes, probably, but I think you'll be more familiar with the expression soon.
TLP, that's why I date palms.
Actonbell, what a great comment! Learning French in five easy liaisons is perfect.
Mo'a, I can't answer your questions but its good to know you're role.
Pun: the word play practiced by a quip-wit.
ReplyDeleteDoug, "date Palms"? er, how is Rosie, these days? ; )
ReplyDeleteYou could date the palm on the right, or the one that's left, but the dissemination of condoms would have the same effect.
ReplyDelete(This is all the fault of the YouTube Ad on ActonBell's site.)
Besides, how can you tell if a palm has reached its sexpiration date?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as Josephine, I suggest you stay the heck on the island. And I AM taking a bath. xoxo
ReplyDelete"sexpiration" TLP? *hands over Pun Queen Crown* good one!
ReplyDeleteoooh Mirelle, kinky. that Napoleon was a dirty little dictator, n'est pas? probably nothin' a little soap and/or Elba grease couldn't have fixed. ; )
Nothing's funny
ReplyDeletewhen you don't feel
punny.
do plam trees have holes on them?
ReplyDeleteO Ceallaigh used Quilly's place to do some wonderfully punny stuff.
ReplyDeleteAh, Neva, the quip-witted one.
ReplyDeleteTLP, Neva and Ariel, it is extroardinary how soon comes the flood once the dam starts to leak.
'Bout time, Josephine.
Cooper, and no-one's rasher than Ogden Nasher.
TLP, I look forward that when I get home from work.
I didn't start it. TLP did!
ReplyDelete"elba grease" heh. good one, N. xoxo
ReplyDelete