To 'step on a joke' is a term in comedy writing. It means to ruin a decent joke by by following it too quickly with a riff or another punchline in an attempt to draw more laughs. Stepping on a joke is a fatal flaw of bad sitcoms and improv groups, where several actors may step on each other's jokes in attempts to one-up each other.

Joke-stepping is particularly noticeable in certain comics, where attempts to cram several related punchlines into a short space such as a final panel are more obvious than in filmed media.

In some usage, to step on a joke means to ruin it by deflating it or explaining it. This is more accurately called 'killing the joke' which can be a deliberate form of anti-humor. Stepping on the joke usually isn't.

To use the phrase:

Did you see that Jay Leno monologue? Making all those lame comments after his punchline? He stepped on that joke so hard he practically curb-stomped it.

To step on the joke:

It was like he was going, "Kiss the curb, you joke!" Heh. Hmm. Yeah. Whoo.

*Applause sign flickers*

step on the joke by Joe Rappin' Pesci July 24, 2010

Step on the scale, Son

1) A challenge to a physical confrontation
2) An after the fact "in your face"

ex. 1:
-I can drink your bitch ass under the table.
-Yeah? Step on the scale, Son!

ex. 2:
-I just boned Kelly S., Step on the scale, Son!
-or-
-I just got the Burning Crusade expansion! Step on the scale, Son!

Step on the scale, Son by Lee Hickman December 9, 2008

Step on the Gas

when u push so hard to get that boner poo out of ur asshole

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA my ass is ripping from stepping on the gas

step on the gas

Step on the Gas by JustGetGud December 9, 2020

stepped on the rake

To run into trouble that could've been easily avoided if you would've just paid attention.

Boy: "My mom searched my room and found my stash!"

Friend: "Why was she searching your room?"

Boy: "I forgot to clean it like she asked."

Friend: "Sounds like you really stepped on the rake this time."

stepped on the rake by LearBear July 2, 2009

stepping on the beach

What you do underwater.

steppin on the beach DO DO DO DO

steppin on the beach DWLLE DA DO
steppin on the beach DO DO DO DO
stepping on the beach DWLLE DA DO

stepping on the beach by someuunedgymiddleschooler December 10, 2017

steppin on the beat

A term that came from Spongebob Squarepants. It means to be walking while singing "steppin on the beat" and add your own toon, and step oddly on each beat of your toon

Spongebob- "STEPPIN ON THE BEAT DO DO DO DO! STEPPIN ON THE BEAT DO DO DO DO! STEPPIN ON THE BEAT DO DO DO DO! STEPPIN ON THE BEAT LEEDLEE DEE DO!"

steppin on the beat by KrissyK January 4, 2014

murderhobo

In a tabletop game, a murderhobo is a player who murders NPCs indiscriminately. This is normally derogatory, referring to a player who totally ignores quests, dialog, backstory, trade, world building etc.

The term is most common with Dungeons and Dragons, but it can be applied to most RPGs where the player is allowed to kill most quest-giving NPCs and NPC traders. E.g. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Divinity original sin.

DM: The sad little orphan girl tugs at Steve's trenchcoat to get his attention, and ask for help saving her pet dog from...
Steve: I'd like to roll a strength check against strangling the orphan.
Dave: I call dibs on the dog.
DM: You murderhobos disgust me.

murderhobo by Loup&S September 9, 2021

Word of the Day on September 22, 2026

Whale

In sales terms, a whale is a prospect that is significantly larger than an organization’s average customer.

Whales are large and extremely difficult to close. Due to their immense size, they are highly sought-after.

A whale is typically identified at first by a whale hunter on the sales team, but often requires cross-discipline participation in order to close; this includes assistance from operations, engineering, creative, client success, and business development teams.

"Shit...the sales director chewed me out on the sales call this morning. He's totally pissed that I have nothing in my pipeline. I've been focused on this one whale for so long that I haven't had time to prospect for normal-sized deals."

Whale by FQ_GFY February 3, 2020

Word of the Day on September 21, 2026

Concrete cowboy

A guy who thinks he's a country kinda guy, but in reality lives a comfortable city / suburban life.

Eugene: Look at that dude in the cowboy hat!
Todd: He's just a concrete cowboy.

Concrete cowboy by EugeneJohnson42000 March 16, 2024

Word of the Day on September 20, 2026

hobo loko

any hard liquor that is cheap & potent.. eg. relska, popov, potters, evan williams, kamchatka, fireball, rumpleminze, southern comfort, everclear

hey let's get a drink of that?

go ahead
*takes drink* ugh wtf is that?

everclear & bepsi
fucking hobo loko eeessshh

hobo loko by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 19, 2026

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026

city chicken

A food native to Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania in which cubes of pork and/or veal are put on a short, wooden skewer, breaded, then baked and/or fried.

I've heard that city chicken originated during the Great Depression, when folks didn't have enough money to buy full cuts of meat, so they assembled meat scraps on a wooden skewer, creating a make-shift drumstick. Hence the name.

Are yinz havin' city chicken for dinner?

city chicken by TRF August 31, 2006

Word of the Day on September 17, 2026