double entendre
Risqué dual meaning
A double entendre is a word or phrase with two meanings, one of which is usually sexual or risqué: She raised an eyebrow at his comment about her "opening.".
The humor or cleverness lies in the surface innocence masking the suggestive interpretation.
From French, literally "double meaning."
Indirect, usually negative suggestion
- suggestiveHinting at impropriety
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
- hintIndirect suggestion
allusion · undertone · wink · nudge · slyness · coy · intimation · veiled
Wordplay using double meanings
- play on wordsExploiting linguistic ambiguity humorously
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
paronomasia · wit · clever · linguistic · semantic · layers · interpretation · polysemous
Humorous statement seeking laughter
- witClever, inventive humor
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- quipBrief, clever remark
jest · wisecrack · levity · mirth · saucy · ribald · bawdy · naughty
Elizabethan dramatist and poet
- farceAbsurd, laughable situation
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
music hall · Mae West · Oscar Wilde · Benny Hill · script · dialogue · lyrics · repartee
insinuation
Indirect, usually negative suggestion
- suggestiveHinting at impropriety
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
hint · allusion · undertone · wink · nudge · slyness · coy · intimation · veiled · coded
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- play on wordsExploiting linguistic ambiguity humorously
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
equivocal · paronomasia · wit · clever · linguistic · semantic · layers · interpretation · polysemous · multivalent
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
quip · jest · wisecrack · levity · mirth · saucy · ribald · bawdy · naughty · cheeky
Shakespeare
Elizabethan dramatist and poet
- farceAbsurd, laughable situation
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
burlesque · music hall · Mae West · Oscar Wilde · Benny Hill · script · dialogue · lyrics · repartee · playwright
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- comedy termsjokes, puns, wit, sarcasm, irony
- comedy tropespratfall, parody, sight gag, running gag, satire
- comedy writingjoke, jokes, comedy, satire, parody
- flirtingpickup line, wink, winking, hair flip, chat-up line
double entendreobscenity
Indecent word or act
explicit language · profanity · vulgarity · crude language · explicit content