lukewarm joke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lukewarm joke" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a joke that is not very funny or fails to elicit a strong reaction, often leaving the audience indifferent. Example: "His attempt at humor fell flat; it was just a lukewarm joke that nobody laughed at."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Similar blind countering approaches can be employed without the "flava," like laughing loudly with a disproportionate level of enthusiasm to a lukewarm joke (this technique was recently employed one-on-one with great effectiveness by Gabriel Iglesia on the third season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing").

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And so, here we are, The White Experience, 2015: $57 for juice, isometric exercises, and asides about late-night hosts making lukewarm jokes about minor phenomena in an internet economy that burns through Drake gifs and ukulele covers of Fetty Wap songs like coal.

Vice

Andy Shaw of Grovel had a more lukewarm response to The Killing Joke, saying that though "wonderfully executed," it "suffer[s] from its reliance on the rules of the superhero story".

Wikipedia

If a joke got a lukewarm response, they briskly brushed past it and went on to the next line, and as improv vets, they totally rocked the spur-of-the-moment bits.

Huffington Post

But Harris' efforts were met with lukewarm reviews, as his generally tame jokes fell flat with the star-studded audience.

Independent

Maybe the trigger that activates your moodiness is a dumb joke while polishing off a few limp, lukewarm string beans, or not.

Huffington Post

And while I munched on my Kind bar and drank lukewarm Tanqueray, it was tempting to think that this was just another joke on the industry.

Vice

The farcical contortions are stiff, the jokes flat, the romance half-baked, the acting rote and the familial bonhomie lukewarm.

The New York Times

In contrast, the host thought Clinton was maybe a little overprepared with "patented lukewarm zingers" like her line about "Trumped-up-trickle-down". "Nothing like watching Hillary land a joke Sully-style," Meyers joked.

Los Angeles Times

Joke! Joke!

The Economist

Tomato soup arrived lukewarm.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lukewarm joke" to describe humor that doesn't quite land or elicit a strong reaction. It's suitable for situations where the joke is not terrible, but simply not very funny.

Common error

While "lukewarm joke" is acceptable in casual writing, consider using more precise or professional language when discussing humor in formal or academic settings. Describing the specific flaws or attributes of the joke may be more insightful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lukewarm joke" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "lukewarm" modifies the noun "joke". It serves to describe the quality of the joke, indicating its lack of impact or humor. Ludwig's analysis suggests this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lukewarm joke" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes a joke that fails to elicit a strong positive reaction. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct, although relatively rare in occurrence. It functions as a noun phrase and is commonly used to convey a negative assessment of a humorous attempt, predominantly found in news and media contexts. While suitable for general use, more descriptive language may be preferred in formal settings. Alternatives include "weak joke" or "uninspired gag", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weak joke

A simpler and more direct way of describing a joke that isn't very funny.

tepid jest

Replaces "joke" with "jest" and "lukewarm" with "tepid", conveying a similar sense of mild amusement.

feeble attempt at humor

Describes the joke as a weak or ineffective try at being funny.

uninspired gag

Indicates the joke lacks originality or excitement.

mildly amusing quip

Suggests the joke is only slightly entertaining.

half-hearted wisecrack

Emphasizes the lack of enthusiasm behind the joke.

underwhelming pun

Highlights the joke's failure to impress.

forgettable one-liner

Suggests the joke is easily overlooked or dismissed.

poorly received gag

Focuses on the negative reception of the joke.

tame joke

Implies the joke is unadventurous or lacking in edge.

FAQs

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

You can use "lukewarm joke" to describe a joke that receives a weak or unenthusiastic response. For example, "His attempt at comedy was met with silence after he delivered a "lukewarm joke" about vegetables."

What's a good alternative to "lukewarm joke"?

Alternatives include "weak joke", "tame joke", or "uninspired gag", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each of these suggests a different reason why the joke failed to impress.

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

While grammatically correct, "lukewarm joke" may be too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using a more descriptive phrase, such as "poorly received attempt at humor", in academic or professional writing.

What makes a joke a "lukewarm joke"?

A "lukewarm joke" is one that isn't particularly funny or engaging. It might be predictable, poorly delivered, or simply not resonate with the audience, resulting in a muted or indifferent reaction.