Caustic humour

Caustic humour is a type of humour which relies on witty insults. As is implied by the name (which literally means humour which is designed to burn or to corrode), it involves the clever use of language to convey biting, insulting, or sometimes even cruel remarks.

This kind of humour is often attributed to such comedians and comedic writers as Lenny Bruce, David Foster Wallace, Richard Pryor, Don Rickles, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Fran Lebowitz, Bea Arthur, Andrew Dice Clay, Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, Ricky Gervais and Bill Murray; philosophers Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin and Ludwig Wittgenstein; and politicians Sir Michael Cullen, Paul Keating, Derryn Hinch and Dennis Skinner. It is a feature of the work of children's author Roald Dahl.

Examples

• The liberals can understand everything but people who don't understand them.

  — Lenny Bruce

• The only truly anonymous donor is the guy who knocks up your daughter.

  — Lenny Bruce

• The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed, hasn’t he, Perce?

  — Edmund Blackadder