thigh-slapper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “thigh-slapper” mean?
A very funny joke or story.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very funny joke or story.
Any piece of entertainment, anecdote, or situation perceived as extremely humorous, often causing an exaggerated physical reaction of laughter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more established in British English, but understood in American English. More likely to be used with ironic or sarcastic tone in British English.
Connotations
UK: Often implies old-fashioned, music hall, or simple, physical humor. US: May be seen as a quaint or deliberately folksy term.
Frequency
Uncommon in both varieties, but marginally more frequent in UK media, especially in reviews of comedy or nostalgic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thigh-slapper” in a Sentence
[That/This] is a real thigh-slapper.He came out with an old thigh-slapper.The routine contained several vintage thigh-slappers.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in very informal contexts to describe a failed attempt at humor in a presentation.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Used humorously among friends or in reviews of comedy shows/films.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thigh-slapper”
- Using it to describe something literally slapping a thigh. Incorrect: 'The parent gave the child a thigh-slapper.'
- Using it in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms. 'Knee-slapper' is more common in American English, while 'thigh-slapper' is found in both but has a slightly British flavour.
It is rarely used with complete seriousness. It often carries a tone of affectionate irony, nostalgia, or gentle mockery towards simple, physical humour.
It is a countable noun (e.g., 'He told three thigh-slappers').
No, it is not offensive. It might be considered mildly derogatory if used to dismiss someone's sense of humour as unsophisticated.
A very funny joke or story.
Thigh-slapper is usually informal, humorous in register.
Thigh-slapper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθaɪˌslæp.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθaɪˌslæp.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[That's] a knee-slapper (US variant).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone laughing so hard at a joke their hand SLAPS their THIGH. The joke is the THIGH-SLAPPER.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMOR IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT (It hits you, slaps you).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'thigh-slapper' be LEAST appropriate?