How to Tell a Knock Knock Joke

Co-authored by Kendall Payne and Amber Crain

Last Updated: December 18, 2024 Fact Checked

Knock knock jokes stand as one of the most popular and enduring joke formats worldwide; their simplicity often yields great effectiveness. After mastering the traditional delivery of a knock knock joke, consider spicing it up by incorporating unconventional punchlines and creative phrasing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Telling Standard Knock Knock Jokes

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1
Find someone to tell the joke to. Try to tailor the joke to the person you're telling the joke to. For example, some knock knock jokes are basically toilet humor, so you may want to save those for your friends! If you don't know the person well, stick to clean knock knock jokes.
- If you know the person has the same sense of humor as you, it's an added bonus. There's a much bigger chance the person will find the joke funny.
All knock knock jokes start out this way. That's how the joke got its name! All you have to do is turn to the other person and say, "Knock knock."^{[1]
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3
Wait for the other person to ask "Who's there?" Knock knock jokes are great because they're so well known. You don't need to instruct the other person on what to say because it's widely known that "Who's there?" is the correct response to "Knock knock."
- The knock knock joke is also great because it invites the other person to get involved in the joke.
4
Tell the person who's there. This is where the real joke starts. When you tell the other person who's there, you set up the final line of the joke. Make sure you don't tell the other person the punchline of the joke at this stage! A few examples:
- You could say "A broken pencil" is at the door.^{[2]
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- You could say "Howl" is at the door.
- You might say "Tank" is at the door.
- You could say "Boo" is at the door.^{[3]
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5
Wait for the other person to say "[The word you said] who?" Since knock knock jokes are so well-known, the other person will know to respond this way. The punchlines of most knock knock jokes are based on this standard response. At this point, the joke is almost over!
- They might say, "A broken pencil who?"
- They will say "Howl who?"
- They will respond "Tank who?"
- They'll say "Boo who?"
6
Finish the joke by saying the punchline. The punchline of the joke finishes off the joke and should be what's funny about the joke. By now, you've set the joke up and got the other person interested in the punchline.
- To finish off "A broken pencil" you can respond, "Oh never mind, it's pointless."^{[4]
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- To finish "Howl" you can say "How'll you know unless you answer the door?!"
- Finish "Tank" by saying "You're welcome!"
- Close "Boo" by saying "I didn't mean to make you cry!"^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Telling an Alternative Knock Knock Joke

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1
Play around with the other person's expectations. A large part of comedy is playing around with what other people expect. By playing around with the knock knock joke, you can inject some comedy into the joke.
- You can try playing with the structure of the joke. For instance, when they say "Who's there?" reply "Britney." Then, after they say "Britney who?" repeat the beginning of the joke by saying "Knock knock." When they say "Who's there?", laugh and say "Oops, I did it again!"
- For example, when they say "Who's there?" reply "An old lady." When they say "An old lady who?" you can reply with "I didn't know you could yodel!"
- When they say "Who's there?" reply "Opportunity." After they say "Opportunity who?" you can walk away and say "Don't be silly, opportunity doesn't knock twice!"^{[6]
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- When they say "Who's there?" reply "Interrupting cow." As they're trying to reply, can you interrupt them and say "MOOOOOO."^{[7]
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2
Get the other person to start off the joke. Go up to them and excitedly tell them you've got a very funny knock knock joke but they need to start it off. This will build their expectations, meaning they think they know where the joke is going.
- When they say "Knock knock," ask them "Who's there?" The other person will get stuck now as they didn't think they'd have to provide the set up for the joke. You can start laughing at this point as you've successfully tricked the other person.
- When they say "Knock knock," you also say something like, "Come in, it's open!" which they won't expect.^{[8]
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3
Use the knock knock joke if you go to see Hamlet on stage. If you go to see Hamlet with another person, you've a great chance to get a laugh out of a knock knock joke. Just before the actor speaks the first line of the play, turn to your friend and say "Knock knock."^{[9]
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- This joke will work perfectly because the first line of Hamlet is "Who's there?"
4
Tell a knock knock joke based on grammar or language. A grammar knock knock joke is another good way to subvert the other person's expectations. Start the joke by saying "Knock knock" as you normally do, then wait for the other person to say "Who's there?" At this point, you can reply:
- "To." When the other person says "To who?," correct them and say "Actually, it's to WHOM!" as this is correct English.
- "Keith." When the other person says "Keith who?," you can say "Keith me, my thweet preenth!" which is just a silly way to say "Kiss me, my sweet prince" in a funny voice.^{[10]
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Community Q&A

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What should I do if other people know the punchline?

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Try to make up a new punchline really fast, or just tell a different joke.

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What if the person i'm telling a joke to doesn't get it and I look stupid?

Breathe Johnson

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Explain the punchline to them. Show them why you thought it was funny. Usually, they end up getting it.

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Tips

Knock knock jokes can be a great icebreaker when meeting someone for the first time. Don't tell too many of them though.

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