noun
knock-knock joke
NOK-nok JOHK
Knock-knock joke (noun) means a joke told as a short scripted exchange that begins "Knock, knock" — "Who's there?" — and ends in a pun on the name the teller gives. Example: “She knows exactly one knock-knock joke and tells it to everyone.”
noun
1
A joke told as a short scripted exchange that begins "Knock, knock" — "Who's there?" — and ends in a pun on the name the teller gives.
"She knows exactly one knock-knock joke and tells it to everyone."
"Knock-knock jokes are usually the first jokes a child learns to tell properly."
How to use knock-knock joke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA joke that starts with someone saying "Knock, knock".
When to use it
Neutral; strongly associated with children's humour.
Memory tip
The joke only works if the listener supplies the two set replies, so it needs a willing partner.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tell a knock-knock joke
a terrible knock-knock joke
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She knows exactly one _____ and tells it to everyone.
Etymology
Named after its opening line, imitating the sound of knocking at a door.
Synonyms
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knock-knock
Rhymes for knock-knock joke
See all rhymes for knock-knock joke →Frequently asked questions
How does a knock-knock joke work?
It runs to a fixed four-line pattern. The teller says "Knock, knock"; the listener replies "Who's there?"; the teller gives a name; the listener repeats it followed by "who?"; and the teller delivers a punchline that puns on that name, as in "Lettuce" — "Lettuce who?" — "Lettuce in, it's cold out here."
Why are knock-knock jokes so popular with children?
They teach the mechanics of joke-telling in a safe way. The listener's lines are fixed, so a child cannot lose control of the exchange, and the punchline is always a simple sound-alike pun that young children are just becoming able to appreciate.
What is the meaning of knock-knock joke?
"knock-knock joke" (noun) means a joke told as a short scripted exchange that begins "Knock, knock" — "Who's there?" — and ends in a pun on the name the teller gives.
What is another word for knock-knock joke?
Other words for "knock-knock joke" include knock-knock.
