Buzz
Get your friends in stitches with these clever one-liners, amusing stories, and more.
If your friend is feeling a bit down or if you're just looking to liven up a dull moment, sharing a laugh is an awesome way to bring some good energy into the scene. You can start with something simple, like a pun or a viral meme, or go for something more elaborate, like a harmless prank. Keep reading, and we'll arm you with plenty of jokes, one-liners, and comedy tips that match your bestie's sense of humor. By the end of this, you’ll have all sorts of ways to crack them up with your funny antics.
Fast Ways to Make Your Friend Laugh
- Throw out a ridiculously cheesy pun, corny joke, or timeless one-liner.
- Try a little physical comedy, like pretending to trip or miming an exaggerated action.
- Share a long, comical tale that will help break the ice and get them laughing.
Steps
Hit them with a cheesy pun.
Choose a pun that's so silly, your friend won't be able to resist laughing. The more cringeworthy, the better! Flip through a joke book for some goofy wordplay, or come up with a pun of your own. Here's a few ideas to get you started:
- “What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta!”
- “What does a nosey pepper do? Gets jalapeño business.”
- “What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator.”
- “Making mirrors is a job I can really see myself doing.”
- “I’m afraid of speed bumps, but I’m slowly getting over it.”
- “I once asked an alpaca for a favor. It was no probllama.”
- “Why can’t you trust an atom? Because they make up everything.”
- “How does the man on the moon get his haircut? Eclipse it.”
- “What do fish say when they hit a concrete wall? Dam!”
- “I have a pun about the wind, but it blows.”
Try a classic knock-knock joke.
Engage your friend with a joke they can respond to. Stick with a time-honored knock-knock joke or create your own knock-knock routine to deliver. Because these jokes are so familiar, make sure your punchline catches them off guard. The more unexpected, the better! Here are some ideas to try:
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Tank.” “Tank who?” “You’re welcome.”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Interrupting cow.” “Interrupting cow wh–” “MOO!”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Dejav.” “Dejav who?” “Knock knock.”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Control freak.” “Con–” “Okay, now you say ‘control freak who?’”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Me.” “Me who?” “Having an identity crisis, are you?”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Who.” “Who who?” “I didn’t know you were an owl!”
- “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “To.” “To who?” “It’s ‘to whom.’”
- “Knock knock.” “Who's there?” “Mike Snifferpippets.” “Mike Snifferpippets who?” “Oh come on, how many Mike Snifferpippets do you know?”
Go for a simple, classic joke.
Say something that will definitely get your friend to laugh. Find the humor in something you both enjoy. You could make a joke about school, a mutual classmate, or even your parents. Try:
- “I invented a new word: plagiarism!”
- “What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot.”
- “What did the pirate say when he turned 80? Aye matey.”
- “The problem with getting to work on time is that it makes the day so long.”
- “I have an inferiority complex, but it’s not a very good one.”
- “Our teacher told me I’m condescending. That means I talk down to people. Understand?”
- “I had a fake plant that died, because I pretended not to water it.”
- “My little sister has a lot of willpower. And even more won’t-power.”
- “I’ve spent 2 years looking for my boss’ killer…but nobody will do it.”
- “Never discuss infinity with our math teacher. He can go on forever.”
Try using the rule of 3.
Say a list of 3 things, but make the third one completely bizarre. Humor thrives on contrast. When you start with 2 ordinary items, you set the stage for something silly to come next, and the unexpected punchline becomes all the funnier. You can use the rule of 3 with anything, like:
- ”Are you trying too hard to get people to like you? By having a lot of money, an attractive appearance, or wearing deodorant?”
- ”If you want to be seen: stand up! If you want to be heard: speak up! If you want to be appreciated: shut up!”
- “I went on a blind date with this guy last week. He’s loud. He’s rude. I’m in love.”
- “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Arsenic?”
- “Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration, and 2% attention to detail.”
Deliver a simple one-liner.
Share a brief, snappy joke. Use irony or make a quick observation about something silly. One-liners work wonders if your friend prefers shorter jokes over longer stories:
- “I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.”
- “I own the world’s worst thesaurus. Not only is it awful, it’s awful.”
- “What’s the difference between a good joke and a bad joke? Timing.”
- “If we shouldn’t eat at night, why did they put a light in the fridge?”
- “The easiest time to add insult to injury is when you’re signing someone’s cast.”
- “Moles ask an interesting question: ‘what if a freckle had an ugly cousin?’”
- “I never knew what happiness was until I got married. And then it was too late.”
- “I’m against protesting, but I don’t know how to show it.”
- “I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.”
- “My brother got burned when he went to Burning Man. The irony stung, but not as much as the burning.”
Laugh at your own expense.
Try some self-deprecating humor. Playfully poke fun at a goofy habit, something you’re wearing, or a recent embarrassing moment. Your friend will appreciate how lighthearted you are and laugh because they’ve probably had similar experiences. You could say things like:
- “I’m in great shape. Round is a shape, right?”
- “This shirt is so bright, NASA probably tracks it from space.”
- “I got so distracted by my phone, I walked straight into a pole!”
- “I got my IQ test results. It turns out, they were negative.”
- “I question my sanity a lot. Sometimes, it even answers back.”
- “Not to brag, but I haven’t had a breakdown in at least 7 minutes.”
- “My clear conscience is just a result of my bad memory.”
- “Together, I’m sure I can heal my dissociative identity.”
- “Yesterday, I got job offers from exactly 0 companies.”
- “I used to be a terrible person. Actually, I still am, but I used to be too.”
Pull off a harmless prank.
Pull a fun, lighthearted practical joke. If your friend has a good sense of humor, they’ll love your playful antics. Pull pranks that both of you find amusing, but keep them harmless and fun.
- Cook them a ridiculous meal, like green eggs and ham or a sandwich shaped like an animal.
- Place confetti on the blades of a ceiling fan, so it falls when the fan is turned on.
- Hide some bubble wrap under a rug, so they’ll get a surprise pop when they step on it.
- Set their clock ahead, making them think they’re late even though they’re early.
Tease your friend, but keep it light.
If you share a close bond with your friend, a little playful teasing can go a long way. Gently poke fun at something they say often or a guilty pleasure they enjoy on TV. Just make sure to avoid any sensitive topics, and don’t take it too far. If they seem hurt, quickly apologize and try another way to get a laugh.
- Keep your tone light and friendly, with a warm smile to let them know your teasing is all in good fun.
- Be mindful of the balance of power when joking around. Avoid teasing in situations where there’s a social or professional imbalance, like at work with a colleague who might feel uncomfortable.
- If you’re teasing in front of a group, make sure to spread the jokes around so your friend doesn’t feel singled out.
Share a hilarious story.
Recount an embarrassing or surprising moment. Talk about something funny that happened to you in person, an amusing news story, or a memorable childhood experience. If it makes you laugh, it will likely make your friend laugh too.
- It could be a bird pooping on someone’s head, a dog wearing a hilarious sweater, or a funny memory like your dad making a mess when he started the blender without the lid.
- When telling a funny story, keep the build-up brief (under 30 seconds) and finish with your funniest punchline.
Watch a comedy together.
Let the humor of a movie or show work its magic. Pick a comedy film or TV show that both you and your friend enjoy or try something new that’s bound to get laughs. Grab some snacks and relax while you both have a good time.
- Shows like “The Office,” “Superbad,” “Friends,” “Dumb and Dumber,” or “The Good Place” could be great picks.
- If you’re out of ideas, just search for “comedies” or “funny” to discover new movies and TV shows to enjoy.
Search for stand-up comedy clips online.
Explore comedians on YouTube or Netflix. Start by watching clips and trailers to get a feel for their sense of humor. Once you find one you like, dive into their most popular specials and enjoy them with your friend. Comedians like Josie Long, Mindy Kaling, Hannibal Buress, and Trevor Noah are great options to consider. Who knows? Their humor might inspire you and your friend to give stand-up comedy a shot!
- If you're in the mood for a live show, consider heading to a local comedy club to see comedians in person.
Send your friend a hilarious meme.
Share a funny meme with your friend to brighten their day. While scrolling through social media, save or screenshot the funniest memes. Then, pick the one that you think will make your friend laugh the most and send it to them.
- Instagram and Twitter are full of memes waiting to be shared.
- If your friend isn’t into memes, a cute kitten video can be just as effective!
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Start laughing and see if your friend catches on—laughter is often contagious.
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Be lively when telling your story, gesturing with your hands and speaking with excitement to make it even funnier.
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Know your friend's tastes so you can choose jokes or stories that are sure to hit the mark for them.
