Blackadder joke

[emilynotail]

George: Well, I thought one or two cheeky gags, one followed by 'She was only the ironmonger's daughter but she knew a surprising amount about fish as well'.

Just wanted to know if anyone could tell me why this joke is funny. I don't get it!! Thankyou

[craft1948]

The original was ....She was only the fishmongers daughter....but she'd lay on the slab and say fillet.....

[Dina73]

Iv'e heard the one that goes...........'she was only an ironmongers daughter, but she sure made a bolt for the door'
not too clear about the fish either, sorry.

[emilynotail]

Thanks! That makes much more sense!

[crayzee]

She was only a pox doctors daughter but she knew what mattered .
She was only a pilots daughter but she kissed him under the hangers .

[Quizmonster]

The joke in your question is funny because the listener would be fully expecting the teller to say, "she knew a surprising amount about screws."
All these 'she was only a...' jokes are invariably sexual and refer to the father's employment, as in 'She was only an Admiral's daughter but her naval was a well-known base for seamen". (You have to change the spelling but not the sound of naval and seamen mentally to get the joke.)
Thus, changing tack to speak about fish as above is just a smokescreen which makes the listener laugh precisely because he has been duped by being denied the expected.

[Parsfan]

She was only a jockey's daughter, but all the horsemen knew 'er.

[arrymong]

the best one of all
"she was only the cobbler's daughter but she liked a leather upper!!!!!!"

[carrust]

She was only the morse code operators daughter but she did it, did it, did it....

[whifffey]

She was only a petrol station owner's daughter but she sure knew about diesel.

[squarebear]

diesel?

[leggysreturn]

whiffy have you been on the kerosene again ?


he was only the answerbank editor but he was a bit of a twitter .

[whifffey]

The diesel is usually available from a black nozzle, get it now?

[leggysreturn]

She knew what about diesel?

You mean she knew about vin diesel in his latest movie fast and furious?

[whifffey]

Yes, that's right.

[leggysreturn]

Good i knew i was right.
As im always right.

Thats why they call me


the messssssssssssssiaaaaahhhh


??? DID YOU KNOW THAT ???

[craft1948]

She was only the gravedigger's daughter....but she'd lay under any old s0d......

[whifffey]

Yes, but your permanent inebriation is not a high priority.

[leggysreturn]

cfart not under thw whiffster ill wager?



whiffy you were doing so well there.

i was actually going to ask them to remove your muzzle.

perhaps tomorrow if you can behave eh ?


tsk tsk you scamp you