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Some people don’t need any help being funny. It comes naturally, and their jokes always land, and the rest of us envy their ability and ease.
If you’re someone who isn’t like that at all, but wish you were able to make people giggle at least once in a while, here are 13 words that can help you along.
13. You’re stomach isn’t “queasy,” you’ve got the…
Definition:
noun
INFORMAL•HUMOROUSplural noun: collywobbles; plural noun: colly-wobbles
stomach pain or queasiness.“an attack of collywobbles”
intense anxiety or nervousness, especially with stomach queasiness.“such organizations give him the collywobbles”
12. Don’t say “run away,” say…
Definition:
verb
HUMOROUS•NORTH AMERICANpast tense: absquatulated; past participle: absquatulated
leave abruptly.
11. You’re not “confused” or “disheveled,” because you’re…
Definition:
adjective
HUMOROUSadjective: discombobulated
confused and disconcerted.“he is looking a little pained and discombobulated”
10. Instead of “brag,” say…
Definition:verb
INFORMAL•US
talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.
9. It’s not a “brawl,” it’s a…
Definition:
noun
NORTH AMERICAN•AUSTRALIANnoun: donnybrook; plural noun: donnybrooks
a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument.“raucous ideological donnybrooks”
8. Don’t call them “clumsy,” say they’re a…
Definition:
noun
an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision.
“economists resort too quickly to the blunderbuss of regulation”
7. It’s not “face paint,” y’all. It’s…
Definition:
Ex., as a noun: Pass the fard, Claudette—I’m due onstage any minute!
Ex., as a verb: It looks like someone farded all over that clown’s face.
6. Don’t call it an “umbrella,” call it a…
Definition:
noun
INFORMAL•USnoun: bumbershoot; plural noun: bumbershoots
an umbrella.
5. Your friend isn’t “silly,” they’re…
Definition:
nounnoun: flibbertigibbet; plural noun: flibbertigibbets
a frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person.
4. Don’t call someone “cranky,” say they’re…
Definition:
adjectiveadjective: cantankerous
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.“a crusty, cantankerous old man”
3. Instead of “confused,” say…
Definition:
adjectiveadjective: flummoxed
bewildered or perplexed.“he became flummoxed and speechless”
2. It’s not “nonsense,” it’s…
Definition:
noun
INFORMAL•BRITISHnoun: codswallop
nonsense.“I think that’s a right load of old codswallop”
1. If you do this instead of “ogle,” you might get away with it…
Definition:
Ex.: Whenever Camilla the chicken passed Gonzo’s door, she felt sure she was being gonzoogled.
I’m definitely adding some of these to my regular vocab, y’all.
What do you think? Could you use these in a sentence? Share with us in the comments!