How did “knock-knock” jokes get started?
Knock knock. Who’s there? A little old lady. A little old lady who? We didn’t know you could yodel. OK, stop rolling your eyes. The truth is nobody really knows the exact history of the knock-knock joke. Shakespeare did have a “Knock knock. Who’s there?” line in “Macbeth,” but there’s no evidence to suggest it spawned a new path in comedy. The jokes we’re familiar with today are popular in the United States as well as France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Knock-knock jokes are fun, if somewhat corny. But we like them because they often involve a play on words, and don’t require too much thinking. The real challenge is coming up with a unique one that’s also at least a little funny. We’ll leave you with one of our favorites… Knock knock. Who’s there? Control freak.
