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This joke goes back at least as far as 1847, when it appeared in an edition of New York magazine The Knickerbocker. It is one of the earliest examples of a joke where the punchline isn’t actually funny. And that’s why it’s funny.
Does she actually want to cross the road?
The original answer to the joke’s question is, of course, ‘to get to the other side’. But there have been many alternatives, puns and parodies over the years. Some of our favourites include:
- Why did the chicken cross the road? To avoid the fowl jokes.
- Why did the chicken cross the road? To join the hen party.
- Why did the chicken cross the road? The subway was closed.
- Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the idiot’s house (Followed immediately by “Knock knock!’ ‘Who’s there?’ ‘The chicken!’)
If you know any better ones, let us have them using the comments box below!
Comments
Natalie, 22 February 2021
Why did the chicken cross the road? because the chicken was not around yet!