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zinger

/ˈzɪŋər/
IPA guide

Other forms: zingers

A zinger is a sharp, funny remark that takes the listener by surprise. A zinger isn’t just a snappy comeback or insult, it’s a clever play on words.

Dorothy Parker, an American writer (1893-1967), is queen of the zingers. Some favorites: “The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue” and “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.” Zingers tend to be funny, and they're often quick, sharp, and even a little mean. Friends often trade zingers as they playfully make fun of each other. Zingers are also called quips or one-liners.

Definitions of zinger
  1. noun
    a striking or amusing or caustic remark
    “he always greeted me with a new zinger
    “she tried to think of some killer of an argument, a real zinger that would disarm all opposition”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    comment, input, remark
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
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