a real howler
- noun
- Informal
:
un verdadero chiste
- The comedian told a real howler that had the whole audience laughing uncontrollably.
Examples
-
A real howler in July, yes?
-
A real howler.
-
When he accidentally sent the email to the wrong person, it turned out to be a real howler.
-
That prank was such a real howler that even the teachers couldn't stop laughing.
Synonyms
33
4.9
A very funny person, story, or situation that makes people laugh
26
6.3
A very funny person or thing that makes people laugh
1
6.8
A very funny joke that makes people laugh loudly
1
6.6
A very funny joke that makes people laugh loudly
1
9.7
A joke that makes an audience laugh loudly
1
8.1
A very funny story or joke that makes people laugh a lot
A very funny joke that makes many people laugh
A very funny story that makes people laugh loudly
Antonyms
How Funny
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward composition of the intensifier 'real' (very) plus the noun 'howler' (a joke or laugh-provoking item), so its meaning 'a very funny or ridiculous thing' is directly derivable from the parts. This adjective+noun pattern is compositional and common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand it.
Etymology
The phrase a real howler may come from the image of a loud howl, like an animal's cry, when people see a very silly mistake or joke. That's why it now means 'something extremely funny or ridiculous'.