plays on words
Verbal double meanings
Plays on words are expressions that exploit multiple meanings or similar sounds for humorous or rhetorical effect.
Puns are the most common type: Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
The singular form is play on words, not play on word.
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
- anagramReshuffled letter word
- punWordplay using double meanings
- double meaningOne phrase, two senses
- quipBrief, clever remark
paronomasia · entendre · groaner · knock knock joke · riddle · comedy · homophone · homonym · ambiguity · limericks · witticism · turn of phrase · dad joke · bad pun · equivoque · conundrum · punster · suggestiveness
linguistic directness
plays on wordsplain speech
Unembellished verbal expression
straight talk · plain English · clear prose · literal meaning
play, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness