Rolling Her Eyes

Why makes this Joke funny?

The joke plays on the double meaning of the phrase “rolled her eyes.” In a literal sense, to “roll one`s eyes” means to move the eyeballs around in their sockets, which is a common expression of exasperation or disbelief. However, in a figurative sense, “rolling one`s eyes” is an idiomatic expression that refers to a gesture of annoyance or impatience, where one looks upwards or around as if rolling the eyes in their sockets.

The humor arises from the fact that the first monster interprets the woman`s action literally, as if her eyes had physically rolled out of her head, which would be a plausible scenario in a monster or Halloween context where bizarre things are expected to happen. The second monster`s advice to “roll them back to her” further builds on this literal interpretation, suggesting an absurdly polite response to an equally absurd situation. The joke`s punchline hinges on the juxtaposition of the literal and figurative meanings of “rolling one`s eyes,” coupled with the absurdity of the situation and the politeness in the context of a monster setting.