Mind if I light up (Cartoon)

[thedaffodils]

Hello! Does Mr. Bulb want to smoke?

Is my interpretation about the cartoon right?


Thank you!

[Raymott]

Hello! Does Mr. Bulb want to smoke?

Is my interpretation about the cartoon right?


Thank you!

No, the joke is that that is what the phrase would normally mean. The joke comes from the incongruity between the normal meaning of the phrase, and the rather obvious meaning that Mr Bulb intends.

[vil]

I’m not a teacher.

Hi thedaffodils,

Light up (idiom) = become or cause to become more animated or cheerful, as in:

Her laughter lit up the whole room. or

His face lit up when he saw her.

This expression transfers physical illumination to human mood.

Regards

V.

[thedaffodils]

Thank you for your answers. I beg to differ.

Please read the definition.

light up
Verb
1. to illuminate
2. to make or become cheerful or animated
3. to light a cigarette or pipe

light up - definition of light up by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
It is a manner for a person who want to smoke to ask for his/her neighbour's permission. Thus, Mr. Bulb asks, "Mind if I light up."

I think the cartoonist humourously campares a smoker to a bulb.

[tedtmc]

I think it is a play on the phrase 'light up' which could mean 1 or 3 above.

It is (a manner) good manner for a person to....

[Raymott]

I think the cartoonist humourously campares a smoker to a bulb.

Maybe, but Mr Bulb is not asking whether he may smoke. If he was, there would be no joke.

[thedaffodils]

I think it is a play on the phrase 'light up' which could mean 1 or 3 above.

It is (a manner) good manner for a person to....

Tedtmc,

Thank you for your response and correction. You are an illuminator to me.

I rule out the definitions of No. 1 and No. 2. He isn't a real bulb so he can't really light up at all but a smoker.

[tedtmc]

You are a good illuminator for me

You mean I light you up?

[thedaffodils]

Maybe, but Mr Bulb is not asking whether he may smoke. If he was, there would be no joke.

Raymott:

Thank you for your response again.

I think the fun lies at the cartoonist draws a smoker as a bulb rather than a person. Thus, 'light up' is a pun or a metaphor here.

[thedaffodils]

You mean I light you up?

(Nodding) You often help me out from the darkness as well as other formites here. I am happy to have you on the board.

Thank you!