partial mirth abortion

The act of cutting off someone's joke by beating them to the punchline.

A: Hey, did you tell your co-workers that joke I told you last night?
B: Yeah.
A: Well, how did it go over?
B: It was a 'partial mirth abortion'. I was pausing, as you should for comedic effect... just about ready to tell the punchline..... and some jerk beat me to it.

by Bryan Gilbreath March 1, 2011