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From classic puns to office-friendly one-liners, the HRO team shares our top picks of dad jokes that prove the best ones are often the worst ones.
*With inputs from Aditi Sharma Kalra, Deborah Quek, Priya Sunil, Sarah Gideon and Umairah Nasir.
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate dads, father figures and caregivers — the people who offer support, guidance, encouragement and, very often, jokes no one asked for.
And because no Father’s Day would be complete without at least one truly questionable pun, we have put together a collection of some of the best (and often the worst) dad jokes to mark the occasion. Some are classics, and some may make you question whether comedy should require approval from HR.
The brief is simple: enjoy them, share them, and if you groan, that means they worked.
Classics that still somehow work
Some dad jokes have been around forever. You can see the punchline coming from a mile away — and yet, somehow, they still get a reaction.
- I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y.
- I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.
- Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts.
- What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta.
- I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me.
- I have a joke about construction, but I’m still working on it.
- Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.
- I’m afraid for the calendar. Its days are numbered.
- Why don’t eggs tell jokes? They’d crack each other up.
- What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese.
Food puns with extra cheese
No dad joke collection would be complete without food puns. Consider these the snack break of the article.
- I’m on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it.
- Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing.
- What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry.
- Why did the coffee file a police report? It got mugged.
- What do you call a belt made of watches? A waist of time.
- Why did the cookie go to the doctor? It was feeling crumbly.
- What did the grape say when it got stepped on? Nothing, it just let out a little wine.
- Why did the banana go to the doctor? It wasn’t peeling well.
- What do you call a factory that makes okay products? A satisfactory.
- Why did the orange stop halfway up the hill? It ran out of juice.
Our handpicked favourites
- I told my boss I needed a raise because three companies were after me. He asked which ones. I said: gas, electric and water.
- I used to be addicted to soap, but I’m clean now.
- I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.
- What’s a dad’s favourite kind of joke? A parent-ly obvious one.
- What do you call a dad who tells too many jokes? A groan-up.
- I tried to catch fog yesterday. Mist.
- My dad says watching football is educational. He’s learning new ways to shout at the TV.
- Did you know a short psychic just broke out of prison? There's a small medium at large!
- Why are elevator jokes so classic and good? They work on many levels.
- I love telling Dad jokes. Sometimes, he even laughs.
Of course, we could not mark Father’s Day without inviting a few colleagues to join in. Here are some of the best — or at least most committed — dad jokes shared from around the office:
- Why is the computer drunk? Because it took too many screenshots.
- Dad at a buffet: "Remember, we're not here to eat. We're here to get the value we paid for."
- Which noodle is the heaviest? Wanton
- Why did the kuih bahulu go to the gym? To get a little more buff-alu!
- I’m terrified of elevators, so I’m taking steps to avoid them.
- Q: What do you call the smartest mountain peak?
- A: Mount Cleverest.
Dad jokes may be simple, but that is part of their charm. They are clean, low-pressure and easy to share. In a busy workday, a small moment of humour can help people pause, smile and connect. It does not need perfect timing, a polished delivery or a comedy background. It simply needs a pun, a confident pause and at least one person willing to groan.
Father’s Day can mean different things to different people. For many, it is a happy occasion. For others, it may feel more complicated. However you mark the day, this is a chance to recognise dads, father figures, caregivers, mentors and the people who offer support, guidance and encouragement in everyday life. And if they do that while telling terrible jokes? Even better.
So this Father’s Day, we celebrate the people who show up, support others and somehow always have a pun ready.
The jokes may be bad.
The punchlines may be predictable.
The groans may be immediate.
But the spirit behind them is worth celebrating.
Happy Father’s Day — and apologies in advance for any jokes you now feel compelled to repeat.
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