A long, convoluted anecdote, often told simply to result in a sentence that consists almost entirely of puns.
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One classic shaggy dog story involves a man named Hugh who is out to stop a couple of monks from growing flowers for money:
"Remember Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars."
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"Remember Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars."
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by al-in-chgo March 13, 2010
A long, harrowing tale often beset by misfortunes that the protagonist endures, only for all his/her/its/their victories to be rendered pointless in one move.
The quintessential shaggy dog story goes like this: One day, a man was hiking when he had a terrible fall. Then, he was discovered by a shaggy dog. The man worked through the pain to take the dog home. After tending his injuries and feeding the dog, he discovers in the papers that a rich couple were looking for a shaggy dog, and were offering a reward for anyone who found it. The man then sold everything he could think of to buy a ticket to the owner's residence area. He even paid extra for handling the dog. When the man landed, he scraped just enough money to get a car. He went to the dog's owner's mansion, but missed the gate. When the man got to the door, he and the dog were shot dead by a guard.
by Intelligence001 November 16, 2020
A joke, usually long, with a silly premise, often involving talking animals. Named for a classic joke involving a lost shaggy dog. Punch line: "Not that shaggy!"
by cornholio October 12, 2003
by abracadabra January 18, 2004