punch line

See also: punchline

English

Alternative forms

• punchline
• punch-line

Etymology

Probably American. It was probably meant to be likened to a quick, sharp punch.

Noun

punch line (plural punch lines)

1. The final part of a joke; the word, sentence, or exchange of sentences that is intended to be funny and provokes laughter from the listeners.

   That was quite a build-up for such a puny punch line.

2. More generally, a final, concluding statement that an explanation has been leading up to.

Translations

final part of a joke

• Danish: poæng c
• Dutch: clou (nl) m, pointe (nl) f
• Egyptian Arabic: إفيه m (efeh)
• French: chute (fr)
• German: Pointe (de) f, Schluss eines Witzes m, witziger Schlusspunkt m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: csattanó (hu), poén (hu)
• Italian: culmine (it), battuta finale, battuta conclusiva
• Japanese: 落ち (ochi), 笑いどころ (waraidokoro)
• Polish: puenta (pl) f
• Russian: соль (ru) f (solʹ)
• Spanish: remate (es) m
• Swedish: poäng (sv) c

final, concluding statement

• German: Schlusspunkt (de) m, Schlussbemerkung (de) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: broche (es) m