To Jail!

Posted on August 21, 2015 by stfleming

Q: Why did the picture end up in jail?
A: It was framed!

Explanation:  Pictures are often put into frames, the wood or metal box that goes around the picture with glass or plastic, to keep the picture safe.

“To be framed” means to be blamed for doing something that you did not do.  It could be a crime and you are framed when the evidence points to you and you did not do the crime. A person who is framed can end up in jail for a crime he or she did not commit.

The premise of The A Team was a group that was framed for a crime they did not commit:

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hang On

Posted on August 20, 2015 by stfleming

Q: Why can’t you give Elsa a balloon?
A: She will Let It Go!

Explanation:  Did you see the movie Frozen?  Elsa is the main character.  Her big song is “Let It Go.”

If you let go of a balloon it will float into the air and then you don’t have the balloon.  So, don’t give Elsa a balloon or she will let it go!

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hay, there!

Posted on August 19, 2015 by stfleming

Q: What did the farmer say when his hay started blowing away?
A: Hay, come back!

Explanation:  Hay is grass that has been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal food, especially for cattle, horses, goats, and sheep.

“Hey” is a word used to get someone’s attention such as when someone says, “Hey, you guys!” or “Hey there!”

This joke is funny because it uses “hay” instead of “hey” when calling the hay to come back.  “Hey” is also used in the Beatle’s song “Hey Jude.

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Shirt!

Posted on August 18, 2015 by stfleming

Q: What’s the best place to shop for a soccer shirt?
A: New Jersey!

Explanation: Quite simply, the shirt that soccer players wear is called a jersey.  New Jersey is one of the 50 United States.  If you want to buy a new shirt, you want to buy a new jersey. Where else?  In New Jersey!

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Braniac 2!

Posted on August 17, 2015 by stfleming

Q: Why do soccer players do so well in math?
A: They know how to use their heads!

Explanation: To ”use your head” means to think.  People who do well in math use their heads when they think and solve math problems.

Soccer players also use their heads when they “head” the ball.  Yes, in English, the word “head” can also be used as a verb.

This joke is funny because it plays on the double meaning of “use your head.”

Happy birthday, friend!!

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sea Sick?

Posted on August 15, 2015 by stfleming

Q: Where do sick boats go to get healthy?
A: To the dock!

Explanation:  A dock is a walk-way that extends from the land into the water.  Boats can be tied to the dock so they do not float away.

Doc (sounds like dock) is a word used for doctor, medical doctor.

This joke plays on the word dock/doc because boats go to the dock but they can’t go to the doc.

“Doc” is also used in a phrase by Bugs Bunny: “What’s up doc?”

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going Out with Fruit

Posted on January 11, 2015 by stfleming

Q: Why did the raisin go out with the prune?
A: He couldn’t get a date!

Explanation:  Raisins are dried grapes.  Prunes are dried plums. Dates are just dates.  All three are fruits.

In this joke “to go out with” means to date someone, that is, to begin a romantic relationship.  Couples might go out on a date to a movie or go out for dinner on a date.  (Date also means the day, month and year: today’s date is Sunday, January 11, 2015… English can be confusing.)

This joke is funny because it plays on the multiple meanings of the word date.  The raisin went out on a date with the prune because he couldn’t get a date (an evening out with someone special) with a date (the fruit).

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gnomes and Elves

Posted on December 27, 2014 by stfleming

Q: What do Santa’s elves do after school?
A: Their gnomework!

Explanation:  Gnome rhymes with home.  After school most students do homework; elves do “gnomework.”  This is funny because elves and gnomes are both magical creatures and because of the rhyme.

If they do their gnomework they will get smarter; hard work = more smarts!

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Drum Beat

Posted on December 25, 2014 by stfleming

Q: What is the best Christmas present ever?
A: A broken drum- you can’t beat it!

Explanation:  Merry Christmas and feliz navidad!

Christmas is celebrated by Christians on December 25; it celebrates the birth of Jesus.  In order to commemorate that day many people give gifts just as the magi gave presents to the baby Jesus.  (Comments about the way the holiday has been commercialized will not be addressed here.)

Children may be given a toy drum as a gift for Christmas.  Of course if the drum is broken you cannot play it; to play a drum is to beat a drum.  Therefore, a broken drum cannot be beaten.

The phrase “you can’t beat it” means that there is nothing better.  If a toy drum can’t be beaten then there is nothing better.  This joke plays on the double meaning in the joke of “it can’t be beaten.”

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fish Talk

Posted on September 25, 2014 by stfleming

Q: What is the best way to communicate with a fish?
A: Drop it a line!

Explanation:  When you go fishing you drop a line in the water to catch a fish.  To “drop someone a line” means to send a short letter, send a note.  I suppose now it could even mean to send someone a text message  (I never did learn the difference between a text message and an SMS).

This joke plays on the double meaning of “drop a line.”

If you have a joke that you would like explained, well, drop me a line!

Posted in ELL, ESL, humor, Joke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment