throw a joke

USAGE SUMMARY

"throw a joke" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to tell or share a joke. It can be used in informal situations or in more creative writing. Example: "During the long car ride, our friends took turns throwing jokes to keep us entertained."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"She's somebody who will throw a joke, make you laugh," she said.

The New York Times

Try to throw a joke or 2 in there and make it worthy of listening to.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In what has thus far proved the album's most quoted line, he suddenly throws a joke into a stark description of the atrocities man inflicts on man: "There's torture and there's killing and all my bad reviews".

The Guardian - Music

The programme even throws a joke into conversation and a grammatical mistake or two just to keep things real.

Vice

Note: for level 70s go to Karazhan, the black temple, gruul etc.. Keep in mind once you have started a party or group for the instance, make the players feel comfortable with your character by throwing a joke or two.

WikiHow

Art student James Heslip was sentenced to 12 months for smashing a window; Zenon Mitchell, 15 months for throwing a placard stick; Omar Ibrahim, 18 months for throwing a joke-shop smoke bomb in the direction of Top Shop.

The Guardian - Opinion

Let's throw a "Newsroom" joke in here, just to rile people up.

The New Yorker

Be able to throw a good joke or have a good sense of humor.

WikiHow

You are special just the way you are.If you are someone with a good sense of humour, make sure to throw in a joke or too whenever you're around him.

WikiHow

Instead of pretending to throw a punch as a joke, I got all hyper and threw a chair.

Vice

If they start a conversation about a movie they went to see, talk about how you have/haven't/want to see that movie, and perhaps throw in a joke about something on the topic.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "throw a joke" to add a touch of informality or spontaneity to your writing, particularly when describing someone's personality or conversational style. It's less formal than "tell a joke" and can suggest a more casual, off-the-cuff delivery.

Common error

Avoid using "throw a joke" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "tell a joke" or "make a humorous remark" to maintain an appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "throw a joke" functions as a verb phrase, where "throw" acts as a verb meaning to utter or deliver something quickly or casually. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and used to describe the act of telling a joke.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "throw a joke" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to describe the act of telling or sharing a joke in a casual manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's often used in informal settings and aims to lighten the mood. While "throw a joke" might not be the best choice for formal writing, alternatives like "tell a joke" or "deliver a joke" can be used to keep a professional tone. Analysis of usage patterns demonstrates the expression appears more often in News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating a general informality. Thus, consider your audience and purpose when choosing whether to "throw a joke" into the conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tell a joke

Replaces "throw" with the more common verb "tell", indicating the act of narrating a joke.

crack a joke

Uses "crack" to suggest delivering a joke, often implying a quick or witty remark.

make a joke

Employs "make" to denote creating or uttering a joke.

share a joke

Indicates the act of disseminating a joke among people.

utter a joke

A more formal way of saying "say a joke".

offer a joke

Suggests presenting a joke, sometimes in response to a situation.

deliver a joke

Implies a formal or intentional presentation of a joke.

recite a joke

Suggests the act of repeating a joke from memory.

spin a yarn

An idiomatic expression for telling a story, which can include jokes.

try a joke

Indicates an attempt to tell a joke, with no guarantee of success.

FAQs

What does "throw a joke" mean?

"Throw a joke" means to tell or share a joke, often in a casual or spontaneous manner. It implies a lighthearted and informal approach to humor.

What are some alternatives to "throw a joke"?

You can use alternatives like "tell a joke", "crack a joke", or "make a joke" depending on the context.

Is "throw a joke" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "throw a joke" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. For formal writing, consider using "deliver a joke" or "offer a joke".

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

You might say, "She likes to "throw a joke" into conversations to lighten the mood", or "He "threw a joke" out during the meeting, and everyone laughed".