Headway Word of the Week
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funny
If something is funny, it makes you laugh.
- Jack told us a really funny joke.
Funny can also mean strange and peculiar (and a bit suspicious).
- This sandwich tastes really funny. What's in it?
- There's something funny about the way he does business. I don't trust him.
(If someone says that a person is funny, a British person might ask, 'Do you mean funny peculiar or funny ha-ha?')
Check out expressions
- funny little ( = strange and small)
He's got a funny little house. It's like a caravan.
- funny old ( = surprising and unusual)
It's a funny old world. The most unexpected things happen.
- feel funny ( = feel a bit ill)
I feel funny. Could I sit down for a moment?
- the funny thing is ( = what's strange is that)
The weather was awful, but, the funny thing is, nobody seemed to notice.
- go funny ( = stop working properly)
My mobile phone's gone funny. It doesn't work anymore.
- see the funny side ( = realise that bad situations can be amusing)
Sue had a disastrous day at work, but she managed to see the funny side of it later.
Check out compounds and collocations
- a funny story ( = amusing)
- a funny mood ( = strange/bad-tempered)
- funny business ( = dishonest activities)
- the funny bone ( = the part of the elbow that hurts when you hit it)
- funny-looking ( = unusual in appearance)
Check out other related words
- amusing
- humorous
- hilarious
- strange
- odd
- fun
⇒ Learn more words in the Word of the Week archive