funny (redirected from funniness)

*funny as a barrel of monkeys

Cliché very funny. (*Also: as ~.) Ron was as funny as a barrel of monkeys. The entire evening was funny as a barrel of monkeys.

See also: barrel, monkey

*funny as a crutch

not funny at all. (Sarcastic. *Also: as ~.) Your trick is about as funny as a crutch. Nobody thought it was funny. The lame joke Ron told was as funny as a crutch, and we all yawned.

See also: crutch

*too funny for words

extremely funny. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Tom is usually too funny for words at parties. The joke Tom told was really too funny for words.

See also: word

Cut the comedy! and Cut the funny stuff!; Cut the shit!

Stop acting silly and telling jokes!; Be serious! (Use shit with caution, as it is considered vulgar.) John: All right, you guys! Cut the comedy and get to work! Bill: Can't we ever have any fun? John: No. Bill: Come on, Mary, let's throw Tom in the pool! Mary: Yeah, let's drag him over and give him a good dunking! Tom: Okay, you clowns, cut the funny stuff! I'll throw both of you in!

See also: cut

funny bone and crazy bone

a spot near the elbow bone that is very sensitive to the touch. Ouch, I hit my funny bone. Effie bumped her crazy bone and made a horrendous face.

See also: bone

funny ha-ha

amusing; comical. (As opposed to funny peculiar.) I didn't mean that Mrs. Peters is funny ha-ha. She's weird—funny peculiar in fact. Mike thinks his jokes are funny ha-ha, but we laugh because they are so silly.

funny money 

1. Sl. counterfeit money. The bank teller spotted the funny money in the man's deposit almost immediately.

2. Fig. temporary or substitute money, good only in certain places. What am I going to do with all this funny money when I leave here? It's no good anywhere else.

3. Fig. foreign currency. (Jocular.) We had better buy some gifts and get rid of some of this funny money before our flight.

See also: money

funny peculiar

odd; eccentric. (As opposed to funny ha-ha.) I didn't mean that Mrs. Peters is funny ha-ha. She's weird—funny peculiar in fact. His face is sort of funny—funny peculiar, that is.

monkey business and funny business

silliness; dishonest tricks. That's enough monkey business. Now, settle down. Stop the funny business. This is serious!

See also: business, monkey

rich man's joke is always funny

Prov. Everyone wants to curry favor with rich people and so will always laugh at their jokes. (From a poem by Thomas Edward Brown.) We all thought that Mr. Lisle was a narrow-minded, unpleasant old man, but we were careful to act otherwise, because he was wealthy. A rich man's joke is always funny.

See also: always, joke, rich

strike someone funny

Fig. to seem funny to someone. Sally has a great sense of humor. Everything she says strikes me funny. Why are you laughing? Did something I said strike you funny?

See also: strike

That's funny.

That is strange or peculiar. Bill: Tom just called from Detroit and says he's coming back tomorrow. Mary: That's funny. He's not supposed to. Sue: The sky is turning very gray. Mary: That's funny. There's no bad weather forecast.

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a funny farm  (humorous)

a hospital for people who are mentally ill

Usage notes: This expression may be offensive in some situations.

If things get much worse they'll be carrying me off to the funny farm.

See also: farm

be more fun than a barrel of monkeys  (American) also be as funny as a barrel of monkeys (American)

to be very funny or enjoyable Their show was one of the funniest I've ever seen - more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

See also: barrel, fun, monkey, more

funny business  (informal)

dishonest or unpleasant actions If you try any funny business you'll be sorry.

See also: business

funny money

money that has been printed by criminals, or which has come from dishonest activities He was caught passing funny money through the business.

See be more fun than a barrel of monkeys

See also: money

monkey business  (slightly informal)

silly behaviour or dishonest behaviour So what kind of monkey business have you kids been up to while I was out? The tax inspectors discovered that there had been some monkey business with the accounts.

See also: business, monkey

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the funny thing is (spoken)

what I am about to say is really strange But the funny thing is, I still love my job, because I still feel I am doing something important. And the funny thing is, the guy spending the least money on TV ads is the one who's ahead in the opinion polls.

See also: thing