SHAGGYDOG STORY Meaning and
Definition
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A shaggydog story is a long-winded and convoluted tale that ultimately leads to a humorous or absurd punchline that is often unexpected and irrelevant to the story's plot. It is a type of joke that relies heavily on the element of surprise and anticlimax to elicit laughter or amusement from its audience.
The term "shaggydog story" is believed to have originated in the United States during the early 20th century. The name itself suggests a story about a shaggy dog, a breed known for its long and messy fur. Like a shaggy dog's coat, the story is typically characterized by excessive length and detail, often with numerous tangents and diversions that seem unrelated to the main narrative.
The main purpose of a shaggydog story is to frustrate the listener or reader, who may expect a meaningful or satisfying resolution to the story's complex and intricate setup. However, the twist or punchline is intentionally disproportionate or inconsequential to the build-up, which is the primary source of comedic effect.
Due to their lengthy and sometimes anticlimactic nature, shaggydog stories are often told as a form of practical joke or prank, with the storyteller deliberately misleading the audience into expecting a profound or meaningful conclusion. The humor in a shaggydog story lies in the contrast between the vast amount of effort invested in the story's development and the ultimately trivial or bizarre resolution.
Common Misspellings for SHAGGYDOG STORY
- shagy dog story
- shaggy dog story
- ahaggydog story
- zhaggydog story
- xhaggydog story
- dhaggydog story
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- whaggydog story
- sgaggydog story
- sbaggydog story
- snaggydog story
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- suaggydog story
- syaggydog story
- shzggydog story
- shsggydog story
- shwggydog story
- shqggydog story
- shafgydog story
- shavgydog story
Etymology of SHAGGYDOG STORY
The term "shaggydog story" refers to a type of long and rambling joke or anecdote that ends with a humorous punchline or unexpected twist. The etymology of the phrase can be traced back to the mid-20th century.
The term "shaggy dog" comes from the idea of a shaggy-haired, long-coated dog breed, possibly similar to an Old English Sheepdog. These dogs are often associated with being big, shaggy, and having unkempt fur. The term "shaggy dog" was used metaphorically to describe a long-winded, convoluted, and seemingly pointless story.
The exact origin of the phrase "shaggydog story" is a bit unclear, but it was popularized in the 1950s by American humorist and journalist Eli Gottleib, who used it to describe a type of gag frequently shared among his colleagues.
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