the.com/punch line
The sentence that makes the first ten worth it.
means The final phrase of a joke or story that delivers the twist and makes it funny.
from A late-19th-century American coinage pairing 'punch' (the hit or jab) with 'line' — the words a comedian or storyteller lands like a blow after building you up. 'Punch' had already carried the sense of forceful impact for centuries; 'line' narrowed it to the exact scripted words doing the hitting.
- origin
- from boxing, the final blow that lands
- structure
- needs setup to steal all the credit
- timing
- arrives late on purpose, that's the whole trick
- misfire risk
- explained punch lines die instantly, every time