What is “no pun intended”?
Dear tutors, could you please explain to me the meaning of this phrase: “no pun intended”? I don’t understand it at all. Thanks in advance.
17 answers from our tutors
Best answer
Great question. Simply, this is something you say after you have inadvertently or 'accidentally' created a play on word. A play on word is when you use words to be clever or witty for comedic purposes. So a pun is a joke that makes a play on words. So you say 'no pun intended' when you accidentally used a word in a sentence and is usually followed with a laugh from the other. Hopefully this isn't too complicated for you; this is actually a great question that a lot of native speakers probably don't think about much. You will just understand more, the more you are exposed to it in real life conversations/situations etc. Example: A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired. hjaha 'no pun intended'. A pessimist's blood type is always B-negative. haha 'no pun intended' etc.. You can also say 'pun intended' to be a real wise ass (someone being clever or too confident) -:) I do this a lot haha
"No pun intended" is a phrase used to indicate that a wordplay or pun was unintentional. It's often said after a statement that could be interpreted as a pun, to clarify that the speaker did not mean to make a joke.
It means whatever was said wasn't meant to be a joke, even if it sounds like one. pun is a joke that makes a play on words for example: + hey my friends are you All Right? _No We Are Left😂 So when we say no pun intended we use it to clarify that a statement was not intended as a play on words or a pun , it was not intended to be humorous in that way.
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First of all, I always intend my puns! Secondly, another tutor explained it is usually an accidental play on words during a serious conversation; however, if I have the opportunity to create a play on words, even in serious conversations, I do! Finally, what a great question. :) Thanks for asking!
The expression "No pun intended" is meant to say after you make a quick pun or witty joke to refer to a real situation that is no laughing matter. Two rivals eating a big steak at an eating competition will have a lot of beef between them, no pun intended. Real situation: There is indeed a lot of beef being eaten between the two contestants. Figurative situation: Both guys have a history of fights between themselves (the idiomatic expression is "There's beef between them.")
- NNatashaJN N
Hello Cormac, a pun is a word play or play on words used in jest or double entendre i.e. when you want to sound funny and humorous. If you add this expression , you want to communicate to others that even if you do perhaps sound humorous , you did mean to be but you were dead serious. What you said may have come across as frivolous but you want to make sure you are not grossly misunderstood. another similar phrase is 'Pardon my pun' ..excuse me for 'my play on words ......' which has the opposite meaning .........
When someone says no pun intended probably they have said something that can be taken have more than a meaning an obvious one and another off interpretation. They want you to know that it is not an intentional play of words but the obvious meaning
Firstly a pun is a play on words, intended to be semi-absurd and comical by describing a thing or situation using words that could also describe the situation with another meaning. For instance suppose there was a skinny farmer picking berries, but he doesn't find that many, another person might observe "looks like slim pickins". Puns often are the worst kind of joke because they do not require much cleverness. When someone says no pun intended, however, it is when they say something that could be taken to have two meanings; an obvious one, and a slightly "off" interpretation; and they want you to know they are not making an intentional play on words and want you to take what they said to be the obvious meaning: Example: a man dares his friend to kiss a rather large woman, to which his friend replies "Fat chance! No pun intended."
- TiwongeCertified ESLTeacher
It is a humorous parenthetical comment used to acknowledge one has made a pun or clever wordplay—sometimes unintentionally.
A pun is a clever and amusing use of a word or phrase with two meanings, or of words with the same sound but different meanings. For example, if someone says 'The peasants are revolting', this is a pun because it can be interpreted as meaning either that the peasants are fighting against authority, or that they are disgusting
When a joke, or pun, was made unintended or by accident. When one word has two different meanings but you use the other meaning. A common example: My friend is outside raking the leaves and I say "I will LEAVE you alone. No pun intended"
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Not so genius, but this has worked with my Asian and Latino students: Substitute all "Th-" in words with a "D-", as it is an easier starting point e.g. instead of "The", ask them to say De(almost like a form of pidgin english: de boi VS the boy). Its a matter of throat to tongue, where sounds with "T" and "D" are easier to begin with and then you will gradually progress to the "Th-" sounds as the find confindence and comfort. You could always tell them to pretend they are blowing out candles on a birthday cake; and for the "Th" sound their tongue should gently touch their teeth, like in words like "Thin" or "This". Have them practice the not so elated soft "Th" sound-- its like their tongue is having a short siesta on their teeth! Such a mental jounery and lots of creativity will get you through a lot of pronounciation hurdles.
