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Angliholic Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

deadpan/straight-faced/cold jokes

I presume in English there are deadpan/straight-face jokes, but are they the same as "cold jokes?" If not, what are the differences in a nutshell? Thanks.
  

Top answer

I would understand a "cold joke" to be a cruel or sadistic one, not one delivered in a deadpan manner. I suppose there could be literal "cold" jokes, which might be told in places with harsh winters to exaggerate the local temperatures. I don't know - I guess I'd call it dry humour, although I'm not too sure that's what it is.

— Mister Micawber

  • I would understand a "cold joke" to be a cruel or sadistic one, not one delivered in a deadpan manner.
  • I suppose there could be literal "cold" jokes, which might be told in places with harsh winters to exaggerate the local temperatures.
  • I don't know - I guess I'd call it dry humour, although I'm not too sure that's what it is.
  • 'Cold joke' seems to me to be Chinglish.
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6 Answers
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I would understand a "cold joke" to be a cruel or sadistic one, not one delivered in a deadpan manner. I suppose there could be literal "cold" jokes, which might be told in places with harsh winters to exaggerate the local temperatures.
I don't know - I guess I'd call it dry humour, although I'm not too sure that's what it is.
'Cold joke' seems to
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Thanks, Mister.

Yes, I think it's Chinglish, yet I'd like to find out the English counterpart. Mayby it's close to "dry humour."

Could you spare me a few words as for the general meaning of "dry humour?" Thanks in advance.
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Mister Micawber[url=http://edonn.com/archives/2003/12/dry/]DONN[/url] will be happy to.

Thanks, Mister, for the link.

Excuse me for bothering you with one more question! Is this counted as a dry humour--changing the world, one word at a time?
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I don't think so-- I think he's serious.
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Mister MicawberI don't think so-- I think he's serious.

Thanks, Mister, for the quick reply.

I agree that he's serious but don't you think the expression very humourous? I mean, when I read the first part of the saying--changing the world, I'd expect something else except "one word at a time." But one second thought, it's amusing and funny b
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