*also called paronomasia
What is a pun?
A pun is a piece of clever word-play in which different meanings of the same word, or words that sound the same, are used for a funny or intelligent effect.
Using puns
Although many people say they hate puns, generally it depends on how clever the pun is: weak or ‘cheesy’ puns often make people groan, but very witty puns are often quoted.
Before using a pun, consider
a) is it actually clever?
b) will the audience like it?
Examples using multiple meanings of the same word
| Pun | Double meaning |
|---|---|
| I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. | hit 1. to realise 2. to get physically struck |
| The sign at the drug centre says ‘Keep off the grass’. | keep off 1. don’t walk on 2. don’t use grass 1. vegetation used on lawns 2. marijuana |
| His politics is like my golf: one bad lie after another. | lie 1. to say something untrue 2. how a golf ball sits on grass, determining how easy it is to hit |
Examples using words that sound alike
| Pun | Similar sounding words |
|---|---|
| Women who wear $200 perfume have no common scents. | scent: perfume common sense: have generally good judgement |
| It’s not that I dislike school; it’s just I don’t like the principal of it. | principal: head of a school principle: concept, idea |
| Bugs are very religious – they are all in sects. | sect: a religious group insect: a small 6-legged animal |
Puns on street signs and in headlines
Many shops use puns in their names, and a lot of tabloid newspapers like to use them in headlines.
| Pun | Play on words |
|---|---|
| Frame Set and Match (shop selling picture frames) | Game, set and match (expression used in tennis) |
| Just Falafs (falafel restaurant) | Just for laughs (expression meaning its just for fun) |
| We will dye for you (Chalfont clothes dying company) | I will die for you |
| Gord Help Us Now Daily Express headline when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister) | God help us now |
| Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic are Atrocious (Sun headline when Inverness Caledonian Thistle upset Celtic in the Scottish Cup) | Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (song from Mary Poppins) |
Puns in literature
Whilst puns in comedy can be obvious, puns in literature tend to be more subtle.
| Pun | Play on word |
|---|---|
| Upon this rock I shall build my church. – Jesus, talking to Peter in The Bible | The name ‘Peter’ means rock |
| Tomorrow…you shall find me a grave man. – The dying Mercutio speaking to Romeo, who thinks Mercutio is joking, in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | grave 1. serious, not joking 2. the place a dead body is placed |
| Mercutio: Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Romeo: You have dancing shoes with nimble soles. I have a soul of lead. – The depressed Romeo telling the Mercutio he doesn’t wish to dance in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | sole: the bottom of the foot soul: spirit |
| If you see Kay Tell him he may See you in tea Tell him from me – from Ulysses by James Joyce | Lines 1 and 3 spell out insults |