shaggy dog story: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “shaggy dog story” mean?
A long, rambling joke or story with a deliberately anticlimactic or nonsensical ending.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, rambling joke or story with a deliberately anticlimactic or nonsensical ending.
Often used to describe narratives that build up expectations only to end pointlessly, serving as a form of humor or critique of storytelling conventions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is used similarly in both British and American English.
Connotations
Generally neutral, with a humorous or slightly critical tone.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, primarily found in contexts discussing humor or literature.
Grammar
How to Use “shaggy dog story” in a Sentence
Noun phrase used as object of verbs like 'tell' or 'hear'Can be modified by adjectives describing length or pointlessness.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, not applicable in formal business contexts.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, humor studies, or linguistics.
Everyday
Informal conversations about jokes, stories, or frustrating narratives.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shaggy dog story”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shaggy dog story”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shaggy dog story”
- Using it to refer to any long story without the anticlimactic element.
- Confusing it with other types of jokes or anecdotes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to a long, drawn-out anecdote that ends anticlimactically or pointlessly.
It originated in the early 20th century, possibly from a specific joke involving a shaggy dog, and has since become a standard term in humor.
It is generally informal and more suitable for casual or literary contexts rather than formal writing.
Yes, some jokes, sketches, or stories in media use this format to create humor through anticlimax.
A long, rambling joke or story with a deliberately anticlimactic or nonsensical ending.
Shaggy dog story: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃæɡi dɒɡ ˈstɔːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃæɡi dɔːɡ ˈstɔːri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shaggy dog story”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shaggy dog that keeps barking a long, tangled tale that goes nowhere.
Conceptual Metaphor
A story as messy and aimless as a shaggy dog's fur.
Practice
Quiz
What is a shaggy dog story?