What Do You Call a Boomerang That Won't Come Back?
A riddle that sets up a clever wordplay answer — then flatly, deliberately, refuses to deliver one.
The Joke
What do you call a boomerang that won't come back?
A stick.
Witty's Word
A masterclass in anticlimax — the riddle promises cleverness and delivers a flat, honest shrug instead.
Explain the Joke
The setup primes the listener to expect a clever portmanteau or pun, in line with the riddle format's usual payoff. The punchline instead offers the plainest possible literal truth: a boomerang that doesn't return has simply lost its defining feature and become an ordinary stick.
Why People Love This Joke
The joke's power is in the betrayal of expectation — listeners brace for a clever pun and instead get the plainest possible truth, and that mismatch between anticipation and delivery is what makes it land.
Joke Breakdown
The setup mimics a typical 'what do you call' riddle, building anticipation for a wordplay answer. The punchline 'a stick' refuses to play along — it strips the object of its special identity entirely, resolving the riddle with blunt, deadpan honesty.
When to Use This Joke
Works for sports humour, outdoor activity chats, classroom riddle sessions, and any moment a joke needs to gently undercut its own setup.