What does practical joke mean?

Definitions for practical joke
prac·ti·cal joke

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word practical joke.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. practical jokenoun

    a prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish)

Wiktionary

  1. practical jokenoun

    Something done for amusement to the detriment of someone else.

Wikipedia

  1. Practical joke

    A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort. A person who performs a practical joke is called a "practical joker" or "prankster". Other terms for practical jokes include gag, rib, jape, or shenanigan. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks or hoaxes in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being talked into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes are generally lighthearted and without lasting effect; they aim to make the victim feel humbled or foolish, but not victimized or humiliated. Thus most practical jokes are affectionate gestures of humour and designed to encourage laughter. However, practical jokes performed with cruelty can constitute bullying, whose intent is to harass or exclude rather than reinforce social bonds through ritual humbling.Some countries in Western culture traditionally emphasize the carrying out of practical jokes on April Fools' Day and Mischief Night.

ChatGPT

  1. practical joke

    A practical joke is a mischievous trick or prank played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, confusion, or discomfort, but intended to be humorous and harmless to all parties involved. It often involves a physical action or situation created or manipulated by the jokester.

Wikidata

  1. Practical joke

    A practical joke is a mischievous trick or joke played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks or hoaxes in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes or pranks are generally lighthearted, reversible and non-permanent, and aim to make the victim feel foolish or victimised to a degree, but may also involve cruelty verging on bullying if performed without appropriate finesse. The term "practical" refers to the fact that the joke consists of someone doing something physical, instead of a verbal or written joke. For example, the joker who is setting up and performing the practical joke might hang a bucket of water above a doorway and rig the bucket using pulleys so when the door opens the bucket dumps the water. The joker would then wait for the victim to walk through the doorway and be drenched by the bucket of water. Objects can also be used in practical jokes, like fake vomit, chewing gum bugs, exploding cigars, stink bombs, costumes and whoopee cushions. In Western culture, April Fools' Day is a day traditionally dedicated to performing practical jokes. A person who performs a practical joke is called a practical joker. The most common cases of practical jokes are encountered inside offices, usually to surprise co-workers. Covering the computer accessories with Jell-O, wrapping the desk with Christmas paper or aluminium foil or filling it with balloons are just some examples of office pranks.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of practical joke in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of practical joke in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of practical joke in a Sentence

  1. Penny Chen:

    Our boss told the women to meet outside, but it was a practical joke; the men had already left before with the bus to the restaurant.

  2. Herman Melville:

    There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes the whole universe for a vast practical joke.


Translations for practical joke

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"practical joke." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/practical+joke>.

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