practical joke

practical joke

noun

Definition of PRACTICAL JOKE

: a prank intended to trick or embarrass someone or cause physical discomfort

— practical joker noun

Examples of PRACTICAL JOKE

1. One of the children filled the sugar bowl with salt as a practical joke.
2. <friends had left the risqué message on his voice mail as a practical joke>

First Known Use of PRACTICAL JOKE

1776

Related to PRACTICAL JOKE

Synonyms: antic, caper, capriccio, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, knavery, monkeyshine(s), prank, rag [chiefly British], roguery, shavie [Scottish], shine(s), trick, waggery

Related Words: skylarking; adventure, experience, game, lark, time; high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism; shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; joking, kidding, teasing; gambit, hoax, maneuver, ploy; deed, feat, mission, performance, stunt; caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey); deceit, deception, delusion, fooling, fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile

[+]more[-]hide