practical joke
noun
a playful trick, often involving some physical agent or means, in which the victim is placed in an embarrassing or disadvantageous position.
practical jokes
-
pluralof practical joke.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He had a soft spot for practical jokes and an even softer spot for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his son said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2024
His character, Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, was a talented surgeon who helped ease the stress of working in a war zone with quips and practical jokes.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 28, 2023
When the prank is revealed, the guys have a huge laugh, but Katie points out that as practical jokes go, it was in poor taste, insensitive given the climate around police and violence.
From Salon ● May 26, 2023
“The irony is obvious,” says Greenamyre, a shy man with a dry sense of humor and a penchant for practical jokes who, to the unpracticed eye, shows few if any signs of the disease.
From Science Magazine ● May 4, 2023
In the jockeys’ room he orchestrated a string of clever practical jokes, sequestered himself in corners to pore over literature, and mystified his fellow jocks with aphorisms from Omar Khayyam and “Old Waldo” Emerson.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
