Noun: when someone makes or tells a joke and the joke's intended recipient does not laugh, or the joke is not funny, the joke-teller is said to have pulled a "Richard Marx."
Origin: there is a man who frequents the downtown Syracuse NY scene and who dresses like he's Richard Marx's fanclub president, from his permed hair to his leather jacket to his cowboy boots poking out of his acid-washed tapered jeans. Once when he was spotted at a bar, a waitress was asked by a patron "Hey, don't you think that guy over there looks like Richard Marx?" The waitress responded with only "He's a really nice guy" and walked away from the table. Stunned but undeterred, the patron again said to the waitress upon her return "Hey, seriously, don't you think that guy over there looks like Richard Marx?" to which she again gave only the dead-serious reply "He's a really nice guy." The patron and his friend with him were dumbfounded, and ever since, as this story has been spread, it has been becoming known as "pulling a Richard Marx" when a joke doesn't turn out the laughs it was thought it would.
Tips: when someone pulls a Richard Marx, it is best not to blurt out "You just pulled a Richard Marx!" but rather to subtly inform said offender of his failed humor attempt. Try simply saying "Good one, Richard" or softly singing "Hold on to the nights." Best yet, when you pull a Richard Marx, just call it before someone else does. Try singing "Shoulda known better" as soon as you realize you've Richard Marxed a joke attempt. This might actually redeem you from your humor failure if your company is hip to what a Richard Marx is and they laugh at you calling yourself on it!
Calling a Richard Marx can be risky if other people present are not familiar with the term. If so, you might actually end up pulling a Richard Marx also if you call it and people are confused! Think about the company present, and consider keeping it subtle, before calling a Richard Marx.
Though somewhat malicious, people have been known to deliberately cause another person to pull a Richard Marx by intentionally not laughing at their otherwise funny joke. Technically this is a Richard Marx, but it's not what the term was originally coined to have done with it.
"I Richard Marxed myself" or "He Richard Marxed himself" are never the way to express this humor failure. Simply say "I Richard Marxed" or "He Richard Marxed" if you wish to express it this way.
Origin: there is a man who frequents the downtown Syracuse NY scene and who dresses like he's Richard Marx's fanclub president, from his permed hair to his leather jacket to his cowboy boots poking out of his acid-washed tapered jeans. Once when he was spotted at a bar, a waitress was asked by a patron "Hey, don't you think that guy over there looks like Richard Marx?" The waitress responded with only "He's a really nice guy" and walked away from the table. Stunned but undeterred, the patron again said to the waitress upon her return "Hey, seriously, don't you think that guy over there looks like Richard Marx?" to which she again gave only the dead-serious reply "He's a really nice guy." The patron and his friend with him were dumbfounded, and ever since, as this story has been spread, it has been becoming known as "pulling a Richard Marx" when a joke doesn't turn out the laughs it was thought it would.
Tips: when someone pulls a Richard Marx, it is best not to blurt out "You just pulled a Richard Marx!" but rather to subtly inform said offender of his failed humor attempt. Try simply saying "Good one, Richard" or softly singing "Hold on to the nights." Best yet, when you pull a Richard Marx, just call it before someone else does. Try singing "Shoulda known better" as soon as you realize you've Richard Marxed a joke attempt. This might actually redeem you from your humor failure if your company is hip to what a Richard Marx is and they laugh at you calling yourself on it!
Calling a Richard Marx can be risky if other people present are not familiar with the term. If so, you might actually end up pulling a Richard Marx also if you call it and people are confused! Think about the company present, and consider keeping it subtle, before calling a Richard Marx.
Though somewhat malicious, people have been known to deliberately cause another person to pull a Richard Marx by intentionally not laughing at their otherwise funny joke. Technically this is a Richard Marx, but it's not what the term was originally coined to have done with it.
"I Richard Marxed myself" or "He Richard Marxed himself" are never the way to express this humor failure. Simply say "I Richard Marxed" or "He Richard Marxed" if you wish to express it this way.
Person 1: Man, poor Dave has been pulling one Richard Marx after another today!
Person 2: I know! It's been like a Richard Marx greatest hits tour!
Person 1: Dude, didn't you get it?
Person 2: Sorry bro, my mind was on the Richard Marx concert coming to town today.
Person 2: I know! It's been like a Richard Marx greatest hits tour!
Person 1: Dude, didn't you get it?
Person 2: Sorry bro, my mind was on the Richard Marx concert coming to town today.
by Leinad Sebelk February 20, 2008
Get the richard marx mug.Da best, amazing, a real super woman. Also known as Wonder Woman. Has your back and your front. Will throw down in a zombie apocalypse and wipe away all that stand in her path including her beloved Rick Grimes. She's known to dominate the dance floor and cause panic attacks to older white folks in a reggae club. Her jerks, twerks, ticks and winning are arguably considered the 8th wonder of the world. Recently she's been dubbed royalty and is known as Lady Kat. Most recent she's been referred to as a Trap Queen.
by Urban Rural May 19, 2015
Get the Kathryn Richards mug.E.T.R. Middle school is a land of lying, pot smoking, kev's dancing, white, losers who think they're all that. I should know, I go there.
by abajciodsu May 20, 2010
Get the E.T. Richardson mug."That damn Richard Rider keeps copyin everything i do that he thinks is cool.
"Flounder from DC 101 is Elliot's little Richard Rider".
"Flounder from DC 101 is Elliot's little Richard Rider".
by Jeff Leeper June 20, 2008
Get the richard rider mug.A crook.
Also, President of the United States from 1969-1974. His accomplishments included officially recognizing China, keeping a steady hand on the economy, managing the war in Vietnam with a reasonable level of competence, and completely destroying Americans' faith in their political system for generations to come by having the balls to create a massive criminal surveillance infrastructure then desperately trying to cover it up while becoming the laughingstock of the media.
Also, said "Sock it to me" on Laugh-In once. That was cool.
Also, President of the United States from 1969-1974. His accomplishments included officially recognizing China, keeping a steady hand on the economy, managing the war in Vietnam with a reasonable level of competence, and completely destroying Americans' faith in their political system for generations to come by having the balls to create a massive criminal surveillance infrastructure then desperately trying to cover it up while becoming the laughingstock of the media.
Also, said "Sock it to me" on Laugh-In once. That was cool.
by MarkusRTK November 8, 2004
Get the Richard Nixon mug.Daughter of actress Vannessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson. She got her start in horror film Gothic and Patty Hearst. Her more notable roles were in films like The Parent Trap, Maid in Manhattan, and Nell. She was married to actor Liam Neeson and they had 2 sons together. Unfortuntely she got in a freak skiing accident, went brain dead and is now dead.
Person 1; OMG did you hear about the lady from the parent trap
Person 2: Natasha Richardson, I know it's so sad she died
Person 2: Natasha Richardson, I know it's so sad she died
by xxxKaYtEexxx March 31, 2009
Get the Natasha Richardson mug.An absolutely amazing guy. They're usually very passionate about the person they love but have trouble showing it. As their name means 'Strong Leader', they truly are strong and powerful leaders. No matter how dangerous they seem, they have the most gentle touch with their lovers. I never met a Richard not willing to save his girl from any pain, even just a trip. But no matter how strong they are, they are just as oblivious to being treated wrong by a girl. They forgive not very easily. Overall, you're a good person if a Richard trusts you.
Girl 1: Did you see Richard?
Girl 2: Well, duh.
Girl 1: Emma is said to be dating him.
Girl 1: Ugh! So lucky!
Girl 2: Well, duh.
Girl 1: Emma is said to be dating him.
Girl 1: Ugh! So lucky!
by HuffFluff September 18, 2017
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