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A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. A good one-liner is said to be pithy – concise and meaningful.[1] Comedians and actors use this comedic method as part of their performance, and many fictional characters are also known to deliver one-liners, including James Bond, who often makes pithy and laconic quips after disposing of a villain.[2]
Examples
"Never read a pop-up book about giraffes." (Sean Lock)[3]
"I went to the doctor's. I said, 'I've got a problem with the hearing in one of my ears.' He said, 'Are you sure?' I said, 'Yes, I'm definite.'" (Daniel Edison)[4]
"Throwing acid is wrong. In some people's eyes." (Jimmy Carr)[5]
"My girlfriend makes me want to be a better person - so I can get a better girlfriend." (Anthony Jeselnik)[6]
"Cricket. No matter who wins, both teams, and all the fans, are losers." (Frankie Boyle)[7]
"An escalator cannot break, it can only become stairs." (Mitch Hedberg)[8]
"My movies were the kind they show in prisons and airplanes, because nobody can leave." (Burt Reynolds)[9]
"I'm on a whiskey diet… I've lost three days already." (Tommy Cooper)[10]
"It's good to see me, isn't it?" (Glinda, from the musical Wicked)[11]
"I have nothing to declare except my genius." (Oscar Wilde, upon arriving at US customs, 1882)[12]
"They hired a 3-piece band that was so lousy, every time the waiter dropped a tray, we all got up and danced!" (Les Dawson)[citation needed]
