Laughter is said to be the best medicine. Although it is not entirely clear which mechanisms in the brain are responsible for laughter, we do know that they are triggered by many sensations and thoughts occurring at the same time and which set various parts of the body into action. We also know that laughter is contagious, social and, even better, usually when we have a good laugh we feel good and are induced to laugh again.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: With Words
Step 1. Tell a joke
It can be a joke, something said to provoke a laugh or arouse fun, but also something as simple as a pun or a long, detailed story that ends with a punchline.
- The classic exchange of words of "knock-knock" requires that you trigger responses in your interlocutor. Something like: “Knock-knock”. "Who is?" “The cow that interrupts”. "Ch..?" "The cow that interrupts." "C..?" “The cow that interrupts”.
- Jokes that are only shared between a few people are funny because they are about a common experience among a small group of friends or colleagues. This mutual experience can make you happy and allows you to relate to someone in an intimate way, eliciting laughter.
- Keep in mind that jokes don't always have to entertain, sometimes they are just meant to provoke a reaction in the listener. For example, you can simply tell a joke about him; one that follows his way of thinking, that makes him feel better about himself or that reaffirms a friendship or a bond.
Step 2. Use word games
These are a form of joke that forces the listener to think twice about the meaning of a word or phrase. Eg:
- “Who has ears to hear in-tent! All the others in a camper! ".
- “Why did God make us with only one chin? Because he couldn't do anything else”.
- “How do you kill a watchmaker? Col-pendulum ".
Step 3. Be witty or sarcastic
Sarcastic comments are those that jokingly emphasize something obvious in a given situation. However, pay attention to your remarks, as too much sarcasm can sometimes be interpreted as offensive or confusing.
- Work on your sarcasm first to learn to recognize when someone is practicing it, then try to imitate it or mimic its tone, language, and comments. Don't be afraid to ask your listener if he found your joke sarcastic or clever.
- Be sarcastic by giving the opposite answer to what you might expect. "Do you like the dessert I made?" "No! It's absolutely horrible!" This jokey way of answering actually implies the exact opposite of what you are saying.
- Sarcasm can be used to point out an absurd assumption. "Is my car in the driveway?" "No, the last time I saw it it was at the bottom of the lake".
Step 4. Use a joke or pun
This is a joke in one sentence.
For example: "I asked my North Korean friend how he is in his country, he told me he can't complain."
Step 5. Use a "back and forth" joke
It's about responding in kind to a mockery or a mocking joke.
- The best jokes of this type are those told on the spot and with the quick response, so that the person who made the original comment is blown away or surprised.
- For example: "Nice that wig, Toni. What is it made of?" "Of your mother's chest hair!"
Step 6. Be self-deprecating
This means telling jokes or making remarks while making fun of yourself.
- Show off your most obvious flaws. If, for example, you are very tall for your age, make jokes about it, so that people around you feel more comfortable and less intimidated by height.
- Make fun of personal flaws. If you are in debt because you are a shopping freak, make jokes that you can't stop yourself from buying your 200th pair of shoes.
- Also joke about your manias or phobias. If you are afraid of snails even though you know it is an irrational fear, joke about it. People laugh at things that seem absurd or ridiculous, especially when you're willing to touch sides - albeit funny - of your nonsense.
Step 7. Use a Freudian slip
This is a type of joke in which an inappropriate word that comes directly from the subconscious is accidentally inserted into the speech. It can be an intentional trick, but it's more fun if it's accidental.
- "For seven and a half years I've worked alongside President Reagan. We've been successful. Made some mistakes. We've had some sex … uh … setbacks …" (President George HW Bush's Freudian slip).
- While watching a commercial for a laundry detergent, Andrea asks his girlfriend to hand him the phone, but instead he says, "Honey, can you pass me the soap?"
Step 8. Be funny with an understatement
This is a figure of speech that can be expressed in a joke by minimizing the gravity of an action or event. It helps to lighten the atmosphere and reduce any tension or anxiety that is sometimes created in a given situation or circumstance.
- Your friend is stung by a bee and has an allergic reaction that causes swelling and redness of the face. Your answer might be: "After all, it's not that bad. It adds a little natural color to your complexion!"
- Use the euphemism about a bad exam grade to minimize frustration. "After all, it could have been even worse. I could have done it in 10 hours instead of 3!"
Method 2 of 2: With Actions
Step 1. Make a caricature of someone by imitating them
Imitate someone you know or even a famous person by acting the same way.
- For example, if you are trying to imitate the great Dario Fo, focus on his voice, as he is known for his firm and imperative tone. By imitating her voice, you are sure to get a laugh.
- Practice watching some of his plays or listening to recordings and try to move like him, to speak with his accent, with his vocal inflections and imitate his body language, especially if posture and certain ways of doing things are a characteristic of him. peculiar.
Step 2. Make slapsticks
It is a physical comedy that usually involves absurd situations, aggressive or even apparently violent actions. From the Marx Brothers to Charlie Chaplin, this is one way to turn a modest comedy into lofty and entertaining art.
- While you don't need to resort to pies in your face or start slipping on banana peels, making small slapstick motions, like pretending to fall on an upside-down carpet at a party or pour your drink into a jar instead of the glass, you can to put in place this kind of comedy in a simple way.
- If you don't want to risk hurting yourself or getting sweaty, check out some of the countless examples of slapstick you can find in online videos (such as people getting hurt in funny situations).
Step 3. Make a parody or satire
They are both a kind of "sarcasm in the form of action". They are used along with irony to joke about an absurd situation in real life.
For example, you can create a satirical version of a popular song, changing the title and chorus to something trivial or ridiculous, to make it more fun and playful
Step 4. Make a joke
Jokes or pranks are meant to make people laugh. Better if they are made to friends or otherwise to people you know, otherwise some strangers may misunderstand or dislike your game.
- A typical joke is to cover a car with cling film or post-its. When your friend is away or very busy, completely upholster the vehicle. The cling film or post-its will not spoil it and the result will be really fun.
- Unscrew the diffuser of a faucet and insert a colored candy. Once the spout is reinserted and the tap is turned on, the water will melt the candy, taking on its color. Again, this is a joke that cannot cause too much alarm and is not dangerous.
Advice
- Avoid repeating the same joke over and over, as it could become monotonous and boring rather than funny.
- Timing is crucial in jokes, so choose a moment during the conversation that is adequate for hilarity and fun, when everyone is paying attention so that the attempt to make people laugh does not fall on deaf ears.
- Do something people don't expect.
