# Quips unappreciated in their time **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546 "2018-10-26T15:34:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/21 "2018-10-26T20:43:28Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > But the OP didn’t write “put a ring on it”. He wrote “put a ring IN it”. I would have least have understood that although why it was said about a house was beyond me. Now if you said it about a car, that’s different. Cars are worthy of lust and many women have bemoaned about their husbands paying more attention to the car then them. > > Dennis I went with ‘in’ because Bilbo kept the ring ‘in’ his house. And hobbits didn’t have cars so that wouldn’t have worked at all. It’s a nerdy joke so if you don’t like it, you can just point and yell, “Nerd!”. I’m used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/22 "2018-10-26T20:46:51Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > A friend was asked to be a bridesmaid for a South Asian woman, and was asked to wear Indian dress. She was telling me about the difficulties she was having making herself understood in the dress shop. For once in my life, my wit was fired with a short fuse; I promptly said, “Sometimes ‘sari’ seems to be the hardest word.” > > She didn’t appreciate the quip. I mean, she _got_ it; but she groaned in pain. Are you sure she didn’t appreciate it? I thought groaning in pain was the correct response to a good pun. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/23 "2018-10-26T20:50:36Z")
Back during the investigation of Bill Clinton’s sordid whatever-it-was-or-wasn’t with Monica Lewinsky, when the infamous dress was found with … um … DNA material on it, I said the following to a bunch of friends: Looks like Ken Starr isn’t the only lawyer in Washington who’s behind a smear campaign. Didn’t get many laughs. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/24 "2018-10-26T21:56:57Z")
On this Board, when the Nickelodeon movie **Rugrats Go Wild** came out in 2003 (the one with the Rugrats/Wild Thornberry crossover), Bruce Willis provided the voice of Spike, the Pickels’ dog. I suggested that they could use, for the movie tag line: ``` **Willis is Barkin'** ``` Crickets. I got crickets. I suppose it’s too much to suppose that a lot of people were familiar with Charles Dickens’ _David Copperfield_, but you’d think that seeral folks on this Board would be, and would recognize the phrase **Barkis is Willin’** ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/25 "2018-10-26T22:42:10Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > As opposed to “prostitution” “Wordplay costs extra, pal.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/26 "2018-10-26T22:48:28Z")
I’ve posted this before, but it’s my favorite, so what the hell… Years ago I was at work. We were running a circus-themed promotion that day - balloons, jugglers, etc. were to be on site. There was a pre-work meeting that day, serious stuff, bosses and bosses of bosses present. At one point, a worker poked his head in the door and announced, “the clowns are here”. Almost instantly I replied, “send them in”. Not an ounce of recognition or appreciation from a roomful of adults. mmm ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/27 "2018-10-26T23:29:45Z")
> [@Steve\_McQwark](#): > > Are you sure she didn’t appreciate it? I thought groaning in pain was the correct response to a good pun. No, that is Level 3. A Level 2 response is a shocked pause, followed by groans and abuse. A Level 1 response is all the people who heard the pun fleeing the vicinity covering their ears. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/28 "2018-10-27T00:57:53Z")
I was quite proud of this one, but no takers. [The first post.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9418616&postcount=1) [My reply.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9421825&postcount=11) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/29 "2018-10-27T02:05:40Z")
My mom is getting along in years, and I spend the weekend with here at least once a month to take care of stuff. We joke around too. She still has a great sense of humor. Once, a cousin was visiting also. We had a few beers and mom had her monthly martini. Well, mom has an essential tremor, and as I gave her her glass, her hand trembled a little bit. I looked to my cousin and said, “Mom likes it shaken, not stirred”. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/30 "2018-10-27T02:40:14Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Years ago I was at work. We were running a circus-themed promotion that day - balloons, jugglers, etc. were to be on site. > > There was a pre-work meeting that day, serious stuff, bosses and bosses of bosses present. At one point, a worker poked his head in the door and announced, “the clowns are here”. > > Almost instantly I replied, “send them in”. A better reply instead might have been “Yes, but we’re almost done – they’ll be out soon.” But you might hasve been fired had they understood that. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/31 "2018-10-27T10:44:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve posted this before, but it’s my favorite, so what the hell… > > Years ago I was at work. We were running a circus-themed promotion that day - balloons, jugglers, etc. were to be on site. > > There was a pre-work meeting that day, serious stuff, bosses and bosses of bosses present. At one point, a worker poked his head in the door and announced, “the clowns are here”. > > Almost instantly I replied, “send them in”. > > Not an ounce of recognition or appreciation from a roomful of adults. that deserved better. on a related matter. I was driving with my wife and a battered old van was hogging the middle lane and weaving. My razor sharp eyesight had picked out the name on the back - “mr. bippo, children’s entertainer” I bided my time as we got closer and as I finally went to overtake I let out a theatrical exhasperated sigh and said “what the hell is this clown doing?” as we passed the van with huge pictures of balloon animals and clown faces on the side. nothing from my wife at all, I couldn’t point out the hilartiy of what I’d said as that would have been too desperate. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/32 "2018-10-27T12:37:58Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve posted this before, but it’s my favorite, so what the hell… > > Years ago I was at work. We were running a circus-themed promotion that day - balloons, jugglers, etc. were to be on site. > > There was a pre-work meeting that day, serious stuff, bosses and bosses of bosses present. At one point, a worker poked his head in the door and announced, “the clowns are here”. > > Almost instantly I replied, “send them in”. > > Not an ounce of recognition or appreciation from a roomful of adults. > mmm Excellent. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/33 "2018-10-27T12:44:57Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > No, that is Level 3. A Level 2 response is a shocked pause, followed by groans and abuse. A Level 1 response is all the people who heard the pun fleeing the vicinity covering their ears. Thank you, master. This one still has much to learn. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/34 "2018-10-27T12:51:17Z")
Thank you to everyone who has shared their tales of forlorn quips. Your joke may have been unappreciated when it sprang to life, but you are among friends now and your wit is appreciated and validated\*. - A word of warning: rumor has it that G0sp3l doesn’t pay for parking. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/35 "2018-10-27T13:51:57Z")
Here’s one from just the other day. We were watching _Colbert_ and he had Ina Garten on. **Mrs. FtG** watches all those kind of cooking shows. **Mrs. FtG** quipped: “She’s not actually a contessa.” My reply: “And she’s not barefoot either.” **Mrs. FtG** ’s response: “Yeah, and?” Blank look. I had to S P E L L it out. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/36 "2018-10-27T13:59:37Z")
I have an _under_appreciated quip from earlier this week. Someone on Facebook posted a crossroads that had a two sets of signage and signals and poles, so each street was marked twice. The street on the pole was marked “Bristol Street”. I quipped “Nice pair of bristols!” I only got 3 likes but I was very proud of the timeliness of my observation. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/37 "2018-10-27T14:20:16Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I was quite proud of this one, but no takers. > > [The first post.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9418616&postcount=1) > > [My reply.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9421825&postcount=11) That’s what you get for using Latin. I know some Latin, but had to googletranslate that phrase. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/38 "2018-10-27T14:23:45Z")
When the recent remake of _Murder on the Orient Express_ came out, I said to some colleagues who are film buffs and (I presumed) would get the joke, “I can’t believe they’re passing up the opportunity to use the tag line ‘The more, the murderer.’” It’s not great, but I was expecting a polite chuckle. Crickets. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/39 "2018-10-27T15:29:27Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > That’s what you get for using Latin. I know some Latin, but had to googletranslate that phrase. It got nothing but blank stares at the Latin Comedy Jam too. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546/40 "2018-10-27T15:58:06Z")
Out drinking with a group of friends. In a lull in the conversation, Mrs Witz says (completely out of nowhere) to a green-fingered friend:\* So, Jacqui, about deadheading chrysanthemums…\* In the slightly startled pause that followed, I managed: _That’s a bit of a non-secateur, isn’t it?_ Mostly silence, but one or two howls of derision. j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quips-unappreciated-in-their-time/823546.md?page=3)