Pun Power

Dear English Answer Man:
What is a pun?
-Curious in Costa Mesa

Dear Curious:
A pun is simply a play on words that helps someone appear clever, cheesy, or both. When you come up with a clever pun, be prepared to hear groans of exasperation, and perhaps even a few cruel words of disdain. However, Pun of the Day website accurately informs us that many people groan when they hear a pun because they are jealous that they didn't think of it first. Yes, my pun-worthy friend, those naysayers are little more than linguistic losers who can't understand that the pun is mightier than the sword.

What are some of the best puns you have ever heard or created?  Leave one in the comments section.

Here's an assignment for each of your blogs:

Newspaper headlines are usually a gold mine for puns.  Find a clever pun in a newspaper headline, and post it to your blog. Include any explanation or commentary you feel is necessary. If you find your head line in an online newspaper, include a link to the title.

Here are some examples from Saturday's Los Angeles Times:

• "At Least the Price is Right in Left" (an article about the cost of a player who will be playing left field)
• "High Expectations for Really Low Snow" (an article about people expecting the snow levels to drop this weekend)
• "Heads Told the Tale in Upset" (A play on the idea of head and tails in a coin flip, and telling a story [the tale]).