Practical joke

For other uses, see Practical joke (disambiguation).
"Prank" redirects here. For the 2016 Canadian film, see Prank (film). For other uses, see Prank (disambiguation).
Practical joke involving completely blocking someone's doorway with phone books

A practical joke or prank is a trick played on people, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.[1][2] The perpetrator of a practical joke is called a "practical joker" or "prankster".[1] Other terms for practical jokes include gag, rib, jape, or shenanigan. Some countries in western nations make it tradition to carry out pranks on April Fools' Day and Mischief Night.[3][4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b "Practical joke". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  2. ^ Marsh, Moira. 2015. Practically Joking. Logan: Utah State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87421-983-8
  3. ^ "Japes of the great (book review of April is the cruellest month: The history and meaning of All Fools' Day)". The Economist. April 2, 1988. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  4. ^ "A Brief History of 'Mischief Night'". 30 October 2015.
  5. ^ "What's the Night Before Halloween Called? It Depends on Where You Live". 29 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Do You Call October 30th Mischief Night or the Devil's Night?". 25 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Yes. The Night Before Halloween Is a Real Holiday | At the Smithsonian | Smithsonian Magazine".