knee-slapper

[ nee-slap-er ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a joke evoking boisterous hilarity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of knee-slapper¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

He loved pickle jokes and eventually collected them in a pamphlet, “Bob Vlasic’s 101 Pickle Jokes,” the cover of which featured a gunslinging, cowboy-hatted gherkin and this salty knee-slapper: “Who’s the toughest pickle in Dodge City? Marshall Dill.”

From New York Times

And if you need a knee-slapper to seal the deal, the market has historically outperformed real estate as far as returns go, making investing rather than buying the better personal finance choice.

From Slate

That was hilarious for a number of reasons, but not as much of a knee-slapper as Biden's zinger response: "Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history."

From Salon

This must be a real knee-slapper to the virus.

From Washington Post

And how about this knee-slapper?

From Washington Post

Related Words

• absurd
• amusing
• droll
• entertaining
• hilarious
• ludicrous
• playful
• ridiculous
• silly
• whimsical