failed joke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed joke" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a joke that did not elicit laughter or was not well-received by the audience. Example: "His attempt at humor fell flat, and everyone just stared at him in silence; it was definitely a failed joke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mr. Leno mentioned many of his top staff members by name, including his longtime executive producer, Debbie Vickers; his assistant from the beginning, Helga Pollock; the NBC late-night executive Rick Ludwin; and the band leader, Kevin Eubanks, whom Mr. Leno thanked for helping cover up the occasional failed joke.

The New York Times - Arts

Not even an early bomb — a failed joke about the accidental death of her baby brother, Jeffrey — could discourage Ms. Silverman's youthful showmanship.

The New York Times - Books

In an interesting twist, participants who told a failed joke were not perceived as worse than participants who gave a serious response, and telling a failed joke actually increased perceptions of the interviewee's confidence.

Harvard Business Review

Additionally, we hypothesized that an individual who tells a failed joke may be viewed as less competent, especially if the joke is offensive.

Harvard Business Review

At first I thought he was making a failed joke, an attempt to make the difficulty of the day seem manageable.

The New York Times - Magazine

Why is it that we mostly ignore this fast-approaching cataclysm, as we write about daily political dramas instead – Theresa May's Brexit speech in Davos today, Jeremy Corbyn's failed joke at PMQs yesterday, Boris Johnson comparing the potential behaviour of the French president to that of a Nazi prison camp guard.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Fortunately, one of Johnny's greatest assets was his ability to recover from failed jokes.

Huffington Post

From Jennifer Lawrence's big win (and fall) to Ben Affleck's touching acceptance speech and Seth MacFarlane's failed jokes and musical numbers, Hollywood was all about the Academy Awards.

Huffington Post

Bounce back from failed jokes.

WikiHow

The first issue was roundly criticized by management, who felt it was "too technical, too scattering, and wholly lacking in punch" Things did not improve for Benchley and Obiter Dicta, and a failed practical joke at a company banquet further strained the relationship between Benchley and his superiors.

Wikipedia

The Twittersphere is a torrent of initial gut reactions, calculated provocation, flashes of brilliance coupled with flashes of anger, jealousy, compassion, manipulation, candor and connection, brilliantly funny jokes, and miserably failed attempts at jokes, poetry, news, commentary.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a comedic performance or writing, use "failed joke" to succinctly convey that a particular attempt at humor was unsuccessful. This is preferable to longer explanations in many contexts.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "failed joke" in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "joke that bombed", "joke that fell flat", or "unsuccessful joke" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed joke" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "failed" modifies the noun "joke". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. The examples in Ludwig show it being used to describe unsuccessful attempts at humor in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed joke" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to describe an unsuccessful attempt at humor. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While not overly frequent, it appears most commonly in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. When using the phrase, consider varying your language with alternatives like "joke that bombed" or "unsuccessful joke" to avoid repetition. The expert rating of 4.1 reflects its grammatical correctness, source authority, and consistent usage. Be mindful to prevent common mistake and, as reported by Ludwig AI, you're now equipped to effectively incorporate "failed joke" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful joke

Replaces "failed" with a direct synonym, maintaining the core meaning.

joke that bombed

Uses the idiom "bombed" to indicate a complete failure of the joke.

joke that fell flat

Employs the common expression "fell flat" to describe a joke that didn't land well.

botched joke

Suggests the joke was poorly executed or delivered.

poorly received joke

Focuses on the audience's negative reaction to the joke.

ill-fated joke

Implies the joke was destined to fail from the beginning.

miscarried joke

A more formal way of saying the joke did not achieve its intended effect.

abortive joke

Similar to "miscarried", suggesting the joke was cut short or unsuccessful.

flubbed joke

Indicates the joke was mishandled or delivered poorly.

unfunny joke

A straightforward description of a joke that lacks humor.

FAQs

How can I use "failed joke" in a sentence?

You can use "failed joke" to describe an attempt at humor that was unsuccessful, such as: "His attempt at humor fell flat, and everyone just stared at him in silence; it was definitely a "failed joke"."

What can I say instead of "failed joke"?

You can use alternatives like "unsuccessful joke", "joke that bombed", or "joke that fell flat" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "failed joke" in formal writing?

Yes, "failed joke" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in contexts where you are analyzing comedic performances or critiquing writing. However, in extremely formal contexts, consider using "unsuccessful joke".

What makes a joke a "failed joke"?

A joke is considered a ""failed joke"" if it does not elicit the intended response (laughter or amusement) from the audience or reader. It might be due to poor timing, inappropriate content, or simply not being funny.