Text: “Are you a slab of clay? Cause I’d love to throw you down on a hard surface and pound you repeatedly.” 

Context: S.T. is unsure of where he first heard this pickup line. He is familiar, however, with the format of it and has heard other variations of the “Are you a ____? Because I want to _______,” pickup lines. He understands it to be a “sexy, fun, NSFW pickup line.” 

Analysis: This pickup line follows a common structure for many other pickups lines: “Are you a ____? Because I want to _______.” Although I had never heard this variation, I understand that it is used to imply that one person is sexually interested in/is making  sexual advantages toward another person. I understand it to have a light-hearted use, more in a joking manner, rather than a serious use. 

Text: “Three men walk into a bar. The first one walks in and he’s got a screwdriver puncture through his tie and he walks up to the bartender. The bartender says, ‘Sir, are you aware that there’s a screwdriver punctured through your tie?” And he tells the bartender, “I know…I’m screwed.” The second man walks in and he has a nail hammered through his hand and he orders a drink. The bartender says, “Sir, are you aware that there’s a nail hammered though your hand?” And he says, “I know. I was making some touch-ups to my kitchen and I really just nailed it!” The third man walks into a bar, and he’s a pirate. The pirate walks up to the bartender and he’s got a giant, wooden pirate ship steering wheel attached to the crotch of his pants. And the bartended says, “Sir, are you aware that there’s a steering wheel attached to your crotch?” And the pirates says, “AYEE! It drives me nuts!” 

Context: S.T. first heard this joke from his uncle at a family Christmas dinner when he was young, and often hears it from his uncle, still, when his family gathers. S.T. understands it to be “a funny phallic joke that most people enjoy. It’s a bit of a pun on pirate vernacular…a play on words.” S.T. uses this joke in gatherings of close friends and family to earn a laugh.   

Analysis: This is a silly variation of the common joke type that follows the structure of “a man walks into a bar…”. It is a dirty joke that has a long lead-up to a punch line/pun that  the audience is not expecting. I believe it would be used in casual settings, among friends and family, to lighten the mood and get a laugh. This particular variation also follows the comedic rule of 3’s, as it has three of the same types of jokes (lead-up to a pun/punchline) with the third being the punchiest. 

Text: “Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I run by again?” 

Context: K.N. first heard this pickup line from a friend, but has also seen it on social media. She believes that “love at first is such a cliche, so it’s really funny to take a play on words and bring it into physicality. Like ok…love at first sight, you’re very taken over with the person. But it’s like, if it didn’t work let my try again! You can manipulate it to make it the way you want it to be.” She thinks it’s best to use this pickup line in a setting where there is a lot of room so that you can enact the physicality of it if necessary. Perhaps to be used on the street or in class. 

Analysis: This pickup line is a common one that takes the idea of love at first sight and riffs on it. Some people don’t believe in the superficial nature of love at first sight, and this pickup line suggests that walking by a second time would deepen the affection the on-looker has for the subject, thus making them more likely to fall in love with them. Though this is likely not going to be the case, it serves as a way to interact with a new person and show your interest. It is to be used in a joking manner.

Text: “Are you from Tennessee? Cause you’re the only ten I see.””

Context: K.N. first heard this pickup line in high school, but has heard it/seen it on social media several different times since. She understands it to mean that whoever you’re saying it to is a “10/10. Gorgeous. It’s a play on words.” When she first heard it, being from LA she didn’t fully understand when someone asked her if she was from Tennessee, but enjoyed the play on words afterwards. She believe the pickup line can be used anywhere, with anyone. “At a party, in class, in college everyone is from everywhere, so it doesn’t really matter.” She believes the pickup line should be used in a joking manner.

Analysis: This is a common pickup line meant to engage the person you are approaching by asking if they are from Tennessee and then make them feel singled-out/special by following with “‘Cause your’e the only ten I see.” This is meant to indicate your attraction to them, essentially commenting on the exemplary nature of the their physical appearance. I believe that because of the commonality and frequent use of this pickup line, it has become more of a joke than a serious pickup line, but it is a good way to engage and start a conversation with someone. It is widely known, and people often know where it is going when it starts.