a real howler

a real howler

1. A mistake, error, or blunder that causes great laughter at the expense of the person who commits it, i.e., one that results in "howling" laughter. Do you remember when John actually slipped on a banana peel? That was a real howler. A: "Hey, are we getting a raise this year?" B: "A raise? Good one—that's a real howler!" A: "Hey, that was a serious question!" I do feel bad for Maurice, but it was a real howler when he tried to catch the ball and ended up splitting his pants!

2. An extremely funny joke, anecdote, or remark that results in "howling" laughter. Boy, Jerry sure knows some real howlers. I thought my sides were going to split I was laughing so hard. She must have had some real howlers in her opening monologue—we could hear the audience laughing uproariously at every joke. A: "Hey, can you guys keep it down? I'm on an important call." B: "Sorry, Mark just told us a real howler about his vacation."

See also: howler, real

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

howler

n. a serious and obvious mistake; a funny error. Who is responsible for this howler on the Wilson account?

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.