Humor in Language: Amusing English Phrases to Impress Your Friends

English is a rich and versatile language, full of idioms and expressions that add color and humor to everyday conversation. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most famous funny expressions that will have you chuckling and maybe even scratching your head. Whether you’re a native speaker or just learning English, these phrases will pleasantly surprise your friends and colleagues. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to LOL with these hilarious English expressions!

Definition of Funny Expressions

English humor is unique. It contains hundreds of thousands of hilarious phrases, one better than the other. Yet, non-native speakers are sometimes afraid (if not terrified) of English jokes. Of course, there is an explanation – they might not understand them or use them in the wrong context. To help you overcome this typical issue, we will tell you everything you need about the types of funny phrases in English and the best ways to implement them in your daily routine. But before that – what is a funny expression? 

In layman’s terms, it is a general name for phrases, words, and sayings that are used humorously. The main goal of such expressions is to make your interlocutors laugh or at least smile. Many funny sayings depend on context, intonation, conversation topics, etc. Here are the most common types: 

• Idioms. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an idiom is a group of words that differ from the literal meanings of the individual words. Usually, they contain a moral lesson. But there are also thousands of funny idioms that can make you and your interlocutors laugh. 
• Wordplay jokes. It is one of the most popular types of witty expressions, but it might be hard for non-fluent speakers. The humor in such sayings is based on playing with words cleverly, relying on the multiple meanings or the similarity between words that sound the same (What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.) 
• Sarcasm. Sarcastic expressions are one of our favorite types. These are primarily usual sentences, but the proper intonation and context give them the opposite meaning. It’s like saying, “I can’t be happier,” when your boss asks you to stay at work for two more hours on Christmas.
• Understatement. This form of funny expression is more British humor. Just like with sarcasm, understatement phrases are usually simple. Their main point is to lessen the significance of something huge intentionally. For example, saying, “it’s a bit rainy, innit?” when there is a hailstorm outside. 

Implementing those expressions into your daily speaking routine can help you sound more natural in English. And if you need clarification on using them, you can always seek help from professionals and practice humor during your classes. And with that being said, let’s talk more specifically about different funny expressions and the ways of using them. 

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Funny Idioms in English

Sarcasm and understatement jokes are pretty easy to make since they are mainly simple phrases said in a proper context. Idioms, however, are a bit more tricky – you need to know their meaning to make them work. Therefore, look at the most common and funny phrases to use in conversations and their definitions. 

• When pigs fly

This famous idiom is a short and hilarious way to say something is impossible or unlikely to happen. For example:

Q: Are you going to meet them again?

A: Yeah, when pigs fly. 

• To pig out

It is another popular idiom related to these wonderful animals. According to Merriam-Webster, it means to eat greedily or simply to overeat. For example:

X: What are your plans for the weekend? 

Y: Nothing new – just watching the Office and pigging out on sweets. 

• It’s raining cats and dogs

This idiom is probably one of the most widespread ones. Yet, it is way more popular during falls and springs because it describes a heavy rainstorm. For example: 

Take an umbrella on your way here. It’s raining cats and dogs. 

I was going to meet him, but I noticed it was raining cats and dogs, so I stayed home.

• Everything but the kitchen sink

This simple and fun idiom means that something includes almost everything imaginable, leaving out only the most unnecessary things. For example: 

John brought everything but the kitchen sink when he went camping. 

I love to go shopping with my mama. She is always ready to buy everything but the kitchen sink for me. 

• Put a sock in it

The last idiom in our list is hilarious, but some people can consider it offensive, so be careful when choosing to whom you will say it. It is a slightly rude and funny way to ask a person to be quiet. For example: 

Put a sock in it! I’m trying to concentrate. 

I listened to you all afternoon, and now I need to work, so please, put a sock in it!

Funny Sayings for Valentine’s Day

This holiday is all about love and romance, but there is always a place for a good laugh. So whether you are single or taken, here is a list of funny sentences you can write on a greeting card to your loved ones or say to your friends in person.

• Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m single and ready for pizza for two.
• I’m Valentine’s Day’s biggest fan. It’s the only day I can eat as much chocolate as I want without feeling guilty.
• I’m not saying I love you for your money, but a trip to Paris wouldn’t hurt.
• I can’t promise you the world, but I can promise you a lifetime of bad jokes and endless laughter.
• Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love, and the one I tolerate.
• I’m yours. No refunds or exchanges.

These simple sentences will probably make your loved ones laugh. And as you can see, there is a vast field for fantasies – you can create your own funny sayings based on more personal things related to your partner, friend, or family member. 

Funny Phrases for Kids

Little children are always the easiest and the most challenging people to make laugh at the same time. Every so often, they smile at bizarre things and sometimes don’t get the simplest jokes. To avoid such cases, look at our list of simple and funny phrases for kids. 

• Never follow anyone else’s path. Unless you’re lost in the woods, and you see a path. Then, by all means, follow that path. 
• The alligators are ornery because they have so many teeth and no toothbrush. 
• Why can’t we see elephants hiding in the trees? Because they are good at it! 
• Why did the math book look so sad? Because it has too many problems. 

As you can see, funny phrases for kids slightly differ from adult ones. They don’t have any double meanings or inappropriate context. Moreover, they are simple and naive, making them even more beautiful. 

Funny Phrases for Christmas

It is another amazing holiday that usually brings us nothing but joy. And isn’t it great to make your family laugh during the traditional Christmas dinner? We think it is, and we want to help you with that using these simple and funny sentences. 

• I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, but if the white runs out, I’ll drink the red.
• Christmas is the only time of the year when wearing an ugly sweater is socially acceptable.
• I’m not Santa Claus, but you can still sit on my lap.
• I’m just a stocking stuffer away from being on the naughty list.
• Santa Claus has the right idea: visit people once a year.

These funny expressions are straightforward, even if you are not fluent in English. Add more practice, and you will easily surprise your family or friends during your next meeting or holiday dinner. 

Learn More ROFLs and LOLs with Promova

If you want to master humor in English and learn how to implement funny sentences in your daily conversations, you might need some help. And Promova is the best place where you can do it! This international platform offers various studying options for students with different requirements.

For starters, you can join our personal or group lessons with professional tutors. To do this, just pass a quick test and provide information about your fluency level to create a curriculum based on your preferences and needs. Then, if you are unsure about your final decision, you can book a free trial lesson to see what is best for you. 

But that’s not all! If you want to study alone, you can install a convenient application and learn languages anywhere and anytime. And don’t forget about our free Conversation Club, where you can practice speaking with students from all over the world. As you can see, there are a lot of options to choose from. Visit the official Promova website, and find the options that suit you best!

Conclusion

To sum up, we can say that using funny expressions in English can be very beneficial since it is a great way to practice language, boost self-confidence, and expand your vocabulary with some cool new words and phrases. We hope that this article was helpful to you. And as always – don’t forget to write your favorite joke in the comments! We are always ready for a laugh.