Make Someone Laugh

Laughter is the best medicine, so they say. Though it is not entirely clear which mechanisms in our brain are responsible for laughter, we do know laughter is triggered by many sensations and thoughts happening at once and that it activates many parts of our body. We also know that laughter is social and contagious, and best of all, it usually feels good when we experience a good laugh and when we make someone else laugh.

Steps

Using Words

1. Tell a joke. A joke, or something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, can be something as simple as a knock knock joke or as detailed as a long, interesting story with a punchline.
   • A knock knock joke is a call and response where you engage your listener by asking: “knock knock”, and wait for them to respond with “who’s there?” For example: “Knock, knock” “Who’s there?” “The interrupting cow.” “The wh-” “The interrupting cow.” "The-" "The interrupting cow."
   • Inside jokes - jokes shared between a few people only - are funny because they are relating a common experience amongst a private group. This mutual experience makes you happy and allows you to relate to someone in an intimate way, which can produce laughter.
   • Keep in mind jokes don’t always have to be funny, they only have to provoke a response in the listener. To do that, you can simply tell a joke that relates to them; one that supports the way they think, makes them feel better about themselves, or reaffirms a friendship or bond.
2. Use puns. Puns are a form of wordplay which forces the listener to think twice about the meaning of a word or phrase. For example:
   • “Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.”
   • “I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.”
   • “I don't trust these stairs because they're always up to something.”
3. Be witty or sarcastic. Sarcastic remarks point out the obvious in a situation in a teasing or taunting manner. Be careful with sarcasm though, as it can be offensive or confusing if the listener does not understand your sarcastic tone.
   • Work on your sarcasm by first learning to recognize when someone is being sarcastic, and then try to imitate or mimic their tone, language, and remarks. Don’t be afraid to ask your listener if they found your remark sarcastic or clever.
   • Be sarcastic by giving the opposite response of what is expected. “Do you like the dessert I made?” “No! It’s absolutely horrible!” This pokes fun by pointing out an obvious truth.
   • Sarcastic remarks can be made to point out an absurd assumption. “Is my car in the driveway?” “No, last I saw it was at the bottom of the lake.”
4. Use a one-liner. A one-liner is just like what it sounds - a joke told in a single sentence.
   • For example: “I asked my North Korean friend how it was there, he said he couldn't complain.”
5. Use a comeback. A comeback is a one line joke, usually told in response to teasing or mocking.
   • The best comebacks are told in the moment, and with rapid delivery so that the person who said the original remark is thrown off or surprised.
   • For example: “Nice wig, Janis. What’s it made of?” “Your mom’s chest hair.”
6. Be self deprecating. This means you tell jokes or make remarks to make fun of yourself.
   • Point out your obvious flaws. If, for example, you’re tall for your age, make jokes about it so people around you feel more comfortable and are less intimidated by your height.
   • Joke about personal disadvantages. If you are in debt because you are a shopaholic, make jokes about your inability to stop from purchasing your 200th pair of shoes.
   • Joke about your quirks. If you have a fear of slugs and know it’s irrational, joke about it. People laugh at things that seem absurd or ridiculous, especially when you are willing to also poke fun of your own absurdity.
7. Use a Freudian slip. This is a type of joke where you accidentally insert an out-of-place word from your subconscious into your speech. These can be done intentionally, but are funniest when they are accidental.
   • "For seven and a half years I've worked alongside President Reagan. We've had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We've had some sex... uh... setbacks." -A Freudian slip by President George H.W. Bush
   • While watching a commercial advertising a laundry detergent, Larry asks his girlfriend to pass him the phone, but instead, he says, "Babe, can you pass me the soap?"
8. Be humorous with an understatement. This is when you make a joke by minimizing the seriousness of an action or event. This will help to lighten the mood and undercut any tension or anxiety around the action or event.
   • Your friend gets stung by bees and has an allergic reaction that causes their face to swell up and turn red. Your response “Oh, it’s not too bad. Just adds some natural color to your face!”
   • Make an understatement about a bad test score to minimize the upset. “Well, it could have been worse. We could have been in there for 10 hours instead of 3!”

Using Actions

1. Do a funny impression of someone. Doing an impression is when you act like somebody, either a person you know well or someone famous and recognizable.
   • For example, if you’re trying to do an impression of the actor Christopher Walken, focus on mimicking his voice as he is known for his striking, dry tone of voice. Doing impersonations of voices is a great way to cause laughter.
   • Practice by watching video or listening to recordings of Christopher Walken talking and moving around to get his accent, vocal inflections, and body language right, especially if the famous person is known for their jerky body movements and particular way of standing.
2. Do a slapstick routine. Slapstick is physical comedy that usually involves absurd situations, aggressive or even seemingly violent action. From the Marx Brothers to the Three Stooges, slapstick is a way to turn low comedy into high, entertaining art.
   • While you don’t have to start throwing pies in everyone’s face or start slipping on banana peels, doing small slapstick movements like pretending to fall on a flipped rug at a party or appearing like you’re pouring your drink into a vase instead of a glass can be little ways of working in slapstick.
   • If you’d rather avoid hurting yourself or working up a sweat, suggest watching one of the many video examples of slapstick (aka people hurting themselves in funny situations) available online.
3. Do a parody or satire. Satire and parody are a type of “acted sarcasm.” They are used alongside irony to mock an absurd real-life situation.
   • For example, you might create a satirical cover of a popular song, changing the title and the chorus to something mundane or ridiculous, such as “Like A Surgeon” instead of “Like a Virgin” or “Smells Like Nirvana” instead of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
4. Play a practical joke. Practical jokes, or pranks, are when you play a trick on someone to cause laughter. They are best done on close friends, as they may incite retaliation.
   • A classic practical joke is sticky-noting or saran-wrapping a car. While a friend is absent or otherwise busy, completely cover their car in saran-wrap or post-it notes. This is rather safe, easy to remove, and will cause laughter on all sides.
   • Unscrew the nozzle on a faucet and insert a dye-pill. When you put the nozzle back on and the water is turned on, it will begin to dissolve the pill, causing the water to run in colors. Again, this joke isn’t likely to cause much alarm and is less dangerous for you to attempt.

Tips

• Avoid repeating the same joke over and over again as it can start to become annoying, instead of funny.
• Timing is important in comedy so pick a moment in the conversation that feels appropriate for a moment of humor and when everyone is paying attention to you so your attempt at hilarity works.
• Do what people aren't expecting.
• Use sarcasm properly as some people can take it seriously.
• Tickle them! Please keep in mind that not all people are ticklish or like to be tickled. If someone tells you to stop, obey their wishes and stop.
• You could tickle them. Note, however, that though they may laugh, it doesn't necessarily mean that they enjoy it.
• Don't something stupid like eating a worm, swallowing a penny, or anything that will make people around you amazed and laugh. You will get hurt.
• When telling a pun, have a really funny/sarcastic laugh, like this: "Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha." Say "Ha" each time until they start laughing (but don't do it too much).
• First think why do you want to play jokes ... then play jokes which is related to that topic.
• Make up a funny dance or sing along to a song with a funny voice they will definitely laugh at that or Tell a funny joke.

Warnings

• Avoid making fun of someone in the room to make everyone else around you laugh. This is bullying, and should not be encouraged.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Do an Evil Laugh
• Smile
• Have a Friendly Face
• Laugh
• Laugh Naturally on Cue
• Make Someone Smile
• Smile With the Eyes
• Do Laughter Yoga
• Smile for Better Health
• Spread Laughter

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