A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. Many comedians have adopted this comedic method in their act. Some, including Rodney Dangerfield, Steven Wright, Emo Philips, Henny Youngman, Mitch Hedberg, Dan Mintz, Zach Galifianakis, Demetri Martin, Jimmy Carr and Milton Jones have used one-liners to make up a significant portion of their repertoire.
Examples
- "I have nothing to declare except my genius." (Oscar Wilde, upon arriving at US customs 18821)
- "Race is just a pigment of the imagination" (Glen Highland)
- "If all those sweet young things were laid end to end – I wouldn't be a bit surprised." (Dorothy Parker, on girls attending a Yale prom2)
- "I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception." (Groucho Marx)
- "Take my wife – please!" (Henny Youngman)
- "If it wasn't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all." (Rodney Dangerfield)
- "Overall, I'd say my career as a photographer has been a bit of a blur." (Milton Jones)
References
- ^ "Number 64300". The Columbia World of Quotations (1996). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
- ^ Tuleja, Tad (1994). The New York Public Library Book of Popular Americana, Macmillan. pp.p. 287. ISBN 0671899872. Originally quoted in Leach, Joshua (1934). "Our Mrs. Parker". While Rome Burns, Viking Press. pp.p. 149. "And there was that wholesale libel on a Yale prom. If all the girls attending it were laid end to end, Mrs. Parker said, she wouldn’t be at all surprised.". Cited in "Number 43615". The Columbia World of Quotations (1996). Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
