shaggy dog story
Noun: A long, rambling, and often elaborate joke or anecdote that builds up anticipation for a punchline, only to end in an absurd, pointless, or deliberately anticlimactic way. The humor is derived from the listener's realization that the lengthy setup was for a trivial or nonsensical conclusion.
A "shaggy dog story" is a specific narrative form. It is told as a joke, but its purpose is to subvert the typical joke structure. The teller invests significant time in creating a detailed, meandering story. The listener's expectation of a clever or witty payoff is intentionally frustrated, creating a humorous effect through the sheer pointlessness of the tale.
- He entertained us for twenty minutes with a shaggy dog story about a penguin trying to buy a loaf of bread, only to conclude with the penguin saying, "I guess I'll just have to wing it."
- The comedian specialized in shaggy dog stories, weaving intricate tales that always led to the most mundane and silly punchlines.
- "That wasn't a joke; it was a classic shaggy dog story—all that buildup for no reason!"
The term can be used metaphorically to describe any long, drawn-out narrative, explanation, or process that seems to have a complex setup but results in a disappointingly trivial or obvious outcome. * The director's three-hour film felt like a shaggy dog story; the elaborate plot resolved with a simple shrug from the main character.
- Shaggy-dog story: An alternative hyphenated spelling.
- Anecdote: A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. (Contrast: an anecdote typically has a relevant point.)
- Anticlimax: A disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events, which is the intended effect of a shaggy dog story.
- Long-winded joke
- Rambling anecdote
- Anticlimactic tale
- To be a shaggy dog story: Used to label a narrative as belonging to this genre.
- "Wait, is this going to be one of your shaggy dog stories?"
- The joke is on the listener: This phrase captures the essence of the shaggy dog story, where the humor comes from the listener's invested expectation being toyed with.
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a long rambling joke whose humor derives from its pointlessness
