“No pun intended”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase No pun intended is used after making a statement that could be interpreted as a play on words (a pun), to indicate that the speaker did not mean to make a pun.
Tone Light-hearted or humorous, often clarifying and self-aware.
Where it comes from
The phrase dates back to at least the 19th century in English, used to acknowledge accidental puns in conversation or writing, and to distance the speaker from making a deliberate joke.
Examples
- I used to be a banker but I lost interest—no pun intended.
- His bakery business is on the rise, no pun intended.
- She bugs me with her insect stories, no pun intended.
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