10 Funny Ways to Say Happy Birthday
Funny Ways to Say Happy Birthday
In our last post, we shared ten of the best birthday quotes and wishes. As you might expect, most were inspirational. They’re great for earnest birthday messages that border on profound, but sometimes you just want to make your friends and family laugh. When you want funny birthday wishes, you've got a wide range of choices.
This article features ten clever ways to say happy birthday, but this time they pull exclusively from the comedy world. We’ll share each quote and then our thoughts on what it means. Whether you're looking for a funny birthday wish for an upcoming event or a happy belated birthday message for one you missed, you'll find what you need. By the end, you should have all the inspiration you need to craft a killer happy birthday — funny included. Don't send a half-assed happy birthday. Make it count with a meaningful message.
SEE ALSO: Best Surprise Birthday Ideas for Friends
Older and Proud Of It
“Eventually, you reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.”
— Will Rogers
This quote makes fun of a pretty familiar pattern. When you’re young, all you want to do is grow up. When you hit middle age, your primary concern is being young again. But once you hit your golden years, you take pride in your age exactly where you are. After all, you’ve managed to tuck an impressive number of years under your belt. Who’s not going to brag about 60, 70, or 80 years of a life well-lived? The fact is, the candles on your fabulous birthday cake don't lie. If you're the birthday boy or birthday girl, people will know how old you are.
MIND OVER MATTER
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.”
— Mark Twain
Ol’ Samuel Clemens called them as he saw them. He recognized that we’re only as old as we allow ourselves to feel. There are people in their 80s and 90s that still grab life by the horns, while many 40-year-olds that drag their way through life as if they were an octogenarian.
This is a funny birthday message because it points out a painful reality. Your chronological age is set — nothing you can do about that. But your attitude about it is entirely within your control. Make your “happy birthday” funny while reminding your recipient that one more notch on the calendar is nothing to fret about. Sometimes the gift of good spirits is the best birthday present you can give someone.
YOU GOT OLD — THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED
“Inside every older person is a younger person – wondering what the hell happened.”
— Cora Harvey Armstrong
Let’s be honest. Our lives rarely go the way we expect. When we’re young, we spin wild stories to ourselves about where we’ll be in ten or 20 years. Looking back, those stories don’t often match reality, and that’s okay. What we get might be different from what we thought we wanted, but it’s often exactly what we need.
With your next happy birthday funny message, remind your loved one that they might be falling apart in their old age, but it's exactly what they should be doing. Here are some unique ways to say "happy birthday dad".
TIME OUT OF MIND
“They tell you that you’ll lose your mind when you grow older. What they don’t tell you is that you won’t miss it very much.”
— Malcolm Cowley
When we’re young, we spend our days dreaming of the future. As adults, we spend our time worrying about the future. But when we get of a certain age, most of our time is behind us. We no longer concern ourselves with the future. We know it’s running short, and nothing can get us but time itself. So a little time out of mind might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Remember that humorous birthday wishes can also make you think.
EXPENSIVE CANDLES
“You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.”
— Bob Hope
How many birthday candles come in a standard box? 25? 50? More? Unless you buy the industrial-sized 100-count box, there’s a good chance that eventually, you and your loved ones will reach an age where a box (or maybe two or three) won’t be enough to fill your cake. Are you up to the challenge of blowing them all out? Will there even be enough surface area on the cake to accept them all? This is great for a belated happy birthday or any other occasion.
COLLECTING BIRTHDAYS
“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.”
— Rev. Larry Lorenzoni
Mark Twain once said that there are three types of lies -- lies, damn lies, and statistics. And while that’s generally true, you can’t twist the statistics in this case. Your “birthdays celebrated” collection is one you never want to stop adding to, and the more impressive your collection, the longer you’ve been building it. To make your “happy birthday” funny, remind your recipient of the goal they’re pursuing. Tell them to enjoy their birthday party because at least they get another one! Each one are birthday gifts in and of themselves.
GRAVITY IS COMING FOR YOU
“They say that age is all in your mind. The trick is keeping it from creeping down into your body.”
— Author Unknown
This quote is a counterpoint to one of our earlier happy birthday funny messages. We know that we’re only as old as we feel, but our bodies have a way of reminding us to feel our age. You might think this falls into the category of rude birthday messages, but the opposite is true. Things all over us start to sink, sag, flop, and bulge. It's as if life is a contest against gravity, and gravity always wins. But that doesn't mean we can't laugh about it.
SEE ALSO: When You Should Send Out Cards
A KID AT HEART
“You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.”
— Ogden Nash
There’s certainly something to be said for being a kid at heart. Kid’s know how to suck the marrow out of life. For them, almost every day is an adventure, full of things they’ve never seen or done before. Adults can take a page from that playbook. Responsibility is essential, of course, but once your day’s obligations are settled, cut loose and enjoy yourself — especially on your birthday, whether it's your 30th or your 90th!
Birthday cure
“There is still no cure for the common birthday.”
— John Glenn
Remind the birthday celebrants in your life that birthdays come back around every year whether we like it or not, so why not enjoy the time in between? Because the fact is that this quote isn’t accurate. There IS a cure for the common birthday, but we spend our entire lives trying to avoid it!
YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT
“Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.”
— Richard Bach
This is the perfect quote to close with because it hints that we always have time to do more, right up until our time runs out. Keep your “happy birthday” funny by reminding your recipient that as long as they haven’t punched their clock yet, they still have living to do, so get out there and enjoy it!
