funny bone
MediumInformal
Definition
Meaning
The part of the elbow where the ulnar nerve is close to the surface, causing a tingling sensation when hit.
Figuratively, one's sense of humour; what a person finds amusing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun phrase. The literal anatomical meaning is more common in its physical sense, while the figurative meaning is used in conversational contexts about humour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically in meaning. 'Funny bone' is the standard term in both. British English might occasionally use the anatomical term 'ulnar nerve' in formal contexts where American English would still likely say 'hit my funny bone'.
Connotations
Identical connotations of mild pain mixed with a strange tingling sensation in the literal sense. The figurative sense connotes the core of one's personal humour.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpora, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hit [POSSESSIVE] funny bonestrike [OBJECT] on the funny bone[POSSESSIVE] funny bone tinglesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He doesn't have a funny bone in his body. (meaning: He has no sense of humour.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical use: 'The presentation failed to tickle the investors' funny bones.'
Academic
Virtually never used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in everyday speech for describing the physical sensation or metaphorically discussing humour.
Technical
In medical/anatomical contexts, the term 'ulnar nerve' or 'ulnar groove' is used instead.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I've just funny-boned myself on the table corner. (informal, rare as verb)
American English
- She funny-boned her elbow on the doorframe. (informal, rare as verb)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Ouch! I hit my funny bone on the chair.
- When I fell, I struck my funny bone and my whole arm went numb for a minute.
- His sarcastic comment really hit my funny bone; I couldn't stop laughing.
- The comedian's dark humour doesn't quite tickle my funny bone, but I appreciate his wit.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: It's the 'funny' (strange) feeling bone, not the 'haha' bone, though it's spelled the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMOUR IS A PHYSICAL SENSATION / HUMOUR IS A BODILY ORGAN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation ('смешная кость'). The anatomical term is 'локтевой нерв'. The figurative sense translates as 'чувство юмора' (sense of humour).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'a hilarious joke' (e.g., 'That was a real funny bone!' – Incorrect). Forgetting the possessive when referring to a person's anatomy (e.g., 'I hit funny bone' vs. 'I hit my funny bone').
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'He doesn't have a funny bone in his body' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's not a bone. The name refers to the ulnar nerve, which runs in a groove near the elbow bone (humerus). The 'funny' sensation comes from hitting this nerve.
No, not directly. It is the source of humour *in a person*. You might say a joke 'tickled my funny bone' (affected my sense of humour), but the joke itself is not 'a funny bone'.
'Funny bone' is standard in British English. A less common, chiefly American regional variant is 'crazy bone'.
The 'funny' here means 'strange' or 'odd', not 'humorous'. It refers to the peculiar tingling sensation, which is different from normal pain.