Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Iwana]

Dear teachers,

I cannot understand the joke below.
Would you explain to me why it is funny ?

How do you get milk from a polar bear?
Rob its fridge and run like mad!

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,

Iwana

[MauraS]

I don't understand why it is funny either.

Are you sure that is the whole joke?

[CP]

It's one of those silly jokes that are funny only because they are nonsensical.

When you hear the set-up, How do you get milk from a polar bear?, you think of getting milk from a cow or a goat, and you imagine that maybe you could milk a polar bear the same way.

Then the answer is to steal milk from its refrigerator and run away fast. So the mental picture switches to the silly image of a polar bear in a house, with a refrigerator.

Only funny because of the silly idea and the unexpected switch.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Philo Kevetch]

Where does an 800 pound gorilla sit?

Anywhere it wants!

[Bob S.]

[CP]

A horse walks into a bar. The bartender asks, "Why the long face?"
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb