practical joke
Practical joke (noun) means a trick played on someone to make them look foolish and to amuse everyone else, carried out through actions or objects rather than words. Example: “Filling his desk drawer with packing peanuts was the oldest practical joke in the office.”
How to use practical joke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA trick you play on someone for a laugh.
Neutral and usable in any context, including news reports and legal writing.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Filling his desk drawer with packing peanuts was the oldest _____ in the office.
Etymology
So called because the joke is carried out in practice — in deed rather than in speech — as opposed to a spoken joke.
Related words
Rhymes for practical joke
See all rhymes for practical joke →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a practical joke and a prank?
In everyday use they mean the same thing, and most people use "prank" simply because it is shorter. "Practical joke" is slightly more formal and tends to suggest something planned and staged, while "prank" can cover anything from a quick tease to an elaborate set-up.
When does a practical joke stop being funny?
The usual test is whether the target can laugh along afterwards. Once a joke causes real fear, injury, humiliation in front of strangers, or costs someone money, it is generally treated as bullying or harassment rather than humour, and in some cases it can be a criminal offence.
Why is it called a practical joke if it is not practical?
Here "practical" carries its older sense of "relating to action" rather than "useful". The joke is performed in practice instead of merely being told.
What is the meaning of practical joke?
"practical joke" (noun) means a trick played on someone to make them look foolish and to amuse everyone else, carried out through actions or objects rather than words.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing practical joke in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
What separates a practical joke from a spoken one is that the target has to do something — open the drawer, answer the phone — before the joke can land.