A
practical joke device is a manufactured
propA theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is any object held or used on stage by an actor for use in furthering the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The...
or
toyA toy is an object used in play. Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult humans and some non-domesticated animals to play with toys. Many items are manufactured to serve as toys, but goods, or services produced for other purposes can also be used as toys...
intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish. In other instances, they are created as seemingly-harmless items designed to humorously malfunction in such a way as to confuse or harm the target of a prank.
A
practical joke device is a manufactured
propA theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is any object held or used on stage by an actor for use in furthering the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The...
or
toyA toy is an object used in play. Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult humans and some non-domesticated animals to play with toys. Many items are manufactured to serve as toys, but goods, or services produced for other purposes can also be used as toys...
intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish. In other instances, they are created as seemingly-harmless items designed to humorously malfunction in such a way as to confuse or harm the target of a prank. The devices are frequently sold in
magicMagic is a performing art that entertains an audience by creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats, using purely natural means...
or specialty shops, purchased over the Internet, or crafted for oneself. Perhaps the most notable such device is the
Whoopee cushionA whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device that produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges...
.
Though commonly employed at events and gatherings, practical joke devices are sometimes seen in everyday life, either as a mechanism of
playPlay is a rite and a quality of mind in engaging with one's worldview. Play refers to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities that are normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment. Play may consist of amusing, pretend or imaginary interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions or...
by children, or among adult co-workers in a work environment. In addition to commercially-manufactured practical joke devices, everyday objects have been converted into joke devices by purveyors of pranks.
History
Historical accounts of practical joke devices date as far back as
Xenophanes of Colophon was a Greek philosopher, poet, and social and religious critic. Our knowledge of his views comes from fragments of his poetry, surviving as quotations by later Greek writers...
(570 -
480 BC- Greece :* May—King Xerxes I of Persia marches from Sardis and onto Thrace and Macedonia.* The Greek congress decides to send a force of 10,000 Greeks, including hoplites and cavalry, to the Vale of Tempe, through which they believe the Persian army will pass. The force includes...
), who wrote of such gags.
Excrement
- Excrement pile
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus during defecation.-Etymology:...
(various types and sizes, also with shoeprint)
- Soiled diaper
- Vomit
Fake vomit is a flat plastic disc with indentations and protrusions designed to look like mucus or vomit. It is a practical joke often used by pranksters to disgust victims....
- Snot (for attaching to the nose)
Body parts
Artificial body parts can be, for example, attached on or under autos.
- artificial arm
- artificial foot
- jammed finger
- oversized feet
- protruding eyes (accessory or on glasses)
Animals
- Mice, rats
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Bugs (ants, roaches)
- Worms, etc.
Clothing
- False nose and mustache
- Glasses
- Beards
- Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, concealment, performance, or amusement. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
s (particularly ones made of latexLatex mask generally refers to a full-head enclosure or disguise, often worn by someone as a part of a costume and usually made from synthetic latex rubber, though some masks can be made of vinyl or silicone rubber. Latex masks are particularly popular around holidays such as Halloween...
)
- Teeth (such as Dracula teeth, monster teeth, yellow teeth) that are similar to dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental...
Smoking articles
- Lit cigarette look-a-like device
- Bang-producing matches
- Exploding cigars
- Exploding cigarette inserts
- Cigarette burn sticker
- Squirting cigarette
- Lighters (with electric shock, squirting, or bang-producing)
- Everlasting ash (the ash does not fall off)
Liquids
- Fake blood
- Magic ink (disappears after a short time)
- Stink bomb
A stink bomb or stinkbomb is a device designed to create an unpleasant smell. They range in effectiveness from simple pranks to military grade or riot control chemical agents....
- Broken egg with shell
- Fake spilled liquid with container, such as nail polish, chocolate syrup, red wine, etc.
- Squirting Flower
Embarrassing
- Whoopee cushion
A whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device that produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges...
- Fart Machine (a remote controlled 3" battery powered speaker that sets off sounds of various farts)
- Fart spray
- Anti-diarrhea cork
- Sneezing Powder
- Itching Powder
- Exhaust pipe whistle tips (for the muffler of an auto)
- Fart powder
- Viagra Ring
Everyday objects
- Pen (with electric shock)
- Camera (with electric shock or squirting)
- Soot soap - colors the hands black
- Blood soap
- Butt/Face soap (large bar soap one side colored white with the word "FACE" and the other side colored brown with the word "BUTT")
- Bitter candy (or e.g. with garlic flavor)
- Golf ball made of gypsum (breaks when struck)
- Beer mug with enclosed liquid
- Pack of chewing gum (with smacking spring, squirting, electric shock, or set off a cap)
A chewing gum bug is a practical joke gag used to play tricks on people, usually adults. The appearance is of a 5-pack of chewing gum, with one stick of gum remaining. The trick works when the prankster tricks the victim into pulling out the last stick of gum...
- Water balloon
A water balloon or water bomb is a latex rubber balloon filled with water. Because of how water balloons' latex breaks under stress, they are often thrown and launched at targets, resulting in wetness...
s
- Squeaking salt shaker
- Banana peels
- Foaming sugar cube
- Enormous dildos
- Fanny floss
- Used Condoms
Others
- Fake lotto tickets
- Bullet hole or glasscrack
- Covert TV Clicker (a miniature remote that controls TVs)
- Hot candy
- No tear toilet paper