It was the way she told it.

[frindle]

Hello. I don't quite follow the underlined sentence in this context below.
Does "It" refer to the joke that Flora told to the audience?
Please help. Thank you.




(Flora told a funny joke to the audience in the school play.)
""No, because he's really heavy," ended Flora, and the audience erupted.
People were cheering and clapping.
It was the way she told it. It brought the roof down.

[SoothingDave]

"It" refers to Flora's delivery of the joke.

[frindle]

Thank you. But I'm still confused. What's the exact meaning of "It was the way she told it." in this context?

[SoothingDave]

Thank you. But I'm still confused. What's the exact meaning of "It was the way she told it." in this context?

Some people have a way of telling stories, jokes etc. that make people want to laugh. The same joke or same story expressed by a different person may not have been as funny. So it wasn't just the joke, it was also the way she told it.

[BobSmith]

People were cheering and clapping.
1 It was the way she told 2 it. 3 It brought the roof down.

[AmE - not a teacher]

IMO, they mean:

1. The reason for the cheering and clapping.
2. The joke.
3. The delivery of the joke.