Funny Saying It Is as Empty as a Short: Meaning, Uses, and Hilarious Variations

Language has an amazing way of painting vivid pictures—sometimes hilarious, sometimes nonsensical, and other times unexpectedly profound. One such gem in the vast universe of humorous expressions is:
“It is as Empty as a Short.”

At first glance, this saying might make you scratch your head. But look a little closer, and you’ll find it’s a perfect blend of irony, wit, and subtle commentary on brevity and nothingness.

In this article, we’ll explore the depths (or lack thereof) of funny saying it is as empty as a short, why it’s funny, how to use it, and the many ways people have adapted it for clever everyday use.

What Does “It is as Empty as a Short” Actually Mean?

At its core, “It is as Empty as a Short” is a humorous way to describe something that has little to no substance. But to unpack it, we need to understand what short refers to:

• A short story (which may lack depth)
  
• A short film (potentially minimal in plot)
  
• A short drink (tiny and gone in a sip)
  
• A short message (vague or unhelpful)
  

In any of these contexts, the word short already implies something brief. Adding “empty” exaggerates its lack of value or substance.

Examples of Usage:

Scenario	Saying
A meeting with no clear goals	“That meeting was as empty as a short.”
A vague message from a crush	“Her reply was as empty as a short.”
Watching a 10-second TikTok with no punchline	“That was as empty as a short.”

The humor comes from how it overanalyzes something already known to be brief—and finds it still lacking.

Origins and Speculations: Where Did the Saying Come From?

While there’s no documented historical source pinning down the origin of “It is as Empty as a Short,” that’s part of its charm. It likely evolved organically from a blend of sarcastic slang and media culture.

There are three plausible origins worth considering:

• Cinema culture: The rise of short films and web series—some celebrated, others utterly pointless.
  
• Digital communication: From “k” replies to blank tweets, brevity often comes at the cost of meaning.
  
• Bartending slang: A short pour is famously frustrating—and hilariously disappointing.
  

A possible early pop-culture influence? Consider this 2011 viral tweet:

“I just watched a short film so empty, I forgot I was even watching anything.”

This type of comedic commentary helped shape how such phrases resonate with audiences online today.

Why Is It Funny? The Humor Behind “It is as Empty as a Short”

The comedy in “It is as Empty as a Short” isn’t just about wordplay—it taps into several layers of modern humor:

• Absurdism: Comparing one form of emptiness (no value) with another (short length).
  
• Relatability: Everyone has experienced something that looked promising but delivered nothing.
  
• Expectation vs. reality: A short is already minimal, but being “empty” makes it even more useless.
  

Humor Elements at Play:

Element	Description
Exaggeration	Overstating how little something offers.
Contrast	Comparing something tiny to being too tiny.
Timing	Perfect as a punchline in real-time commentary.

People laugh because the saying captures that awkward moment where you were expecting at least something—and ended up with nothing.

Common Situations to Use “It is as Empty as a Short”

This saying is a versatile addition to any witty speaker’s toolkit. It can lighten the mood, inject humor into frustration, or make you sound like the sarcastic friend everyone secretly loves.

Ideal Use Cases:

• Social Media:
  “That apology was as empty as a short.”
  (Perfect for vague influencer notes app apologies.)
  
• At Work:
  “This report? As empty as a short.”
  (When someone sends 2 pages of fluff and no data.)
  
• In Relationships:
  “His promises were as empty as a short.”
  (Ouch. But also funny.)
  
• On Group Chats:
  “Replying ‘LOL’ to a long message? That’s as empty as a short.”
  

Pro Tip:

Deliver it with a calm tone and slight smirk—it’s the delivery that often makes it land.

Funny Variations and Spin-offs of the Saying

One of the best things about humorous expressions is how easily they evolve. The saying “It is as Empty as a Short” has inspired a growing number of clever, satirical variations that expand its charm.

Creative Spins on the Original:

• “As empty as a short on plot.”
  Great for describing a movie that looked good but had no real story.
  
• “As empty as a short espresso shot on Monday morning.”
  Doubles as a coffee joke and a metaphor for a disappointing start.
  
• “As empty as a short message from an ex.”
  A perfect mix of wit and subtle emotional punch.
  

Why Do Variations Work?

They tap into cultural references, shared frustrations, and absurd comparisons, all while giving the original phrase a fun twist.

“The more specific the variation, the funnier it becomes.” —Humor researcher Eric F. Weitz

Encouraging users or readers to create their own spinoffs invites engagement and creativity.

Comparing “It is as Empty as a Short” with Other Funny Sayings

Every culture has its quirky idioms and analogies. So how does “It is as Empty as a Short” compare to classic funny sayings?

Popular Sayings with Similar Vibes:

Funny Saying	Meaning	Tone
“As useless as a screen door on a submarine.”	Completely ineffective	Absurd and sarcastic
“As clear as mud.”	Totally confusing	Dry, ironic
“As hollow as a chocolate bunny.”	Looks solid, but isn’t	Sweetly critical
“As empty as a short.”	Lacking substance or value	Modern, witty

What sets “It is as Empty as a Short” apart is its modern freshness, its open-ended metaphor, and how it fits into both analog and digital conversations with equal punch.

Regional or Cultural Interpretations of the Saying

Humor doesn’t always travel well, and “It is as Empty as a Short” might need a little localization depending on the audience.

How It Might Be Understood in Different Contexts:

• In the U.K.:
  Might be confused with “shorts” (as in trousers) — adding to the accidental humor.
  
• In Southeast Asia:
  Could be interpreted literally, as in a small serving of food or drink lacking fullness.
  
• In internet culture:
  Instantly recognized as a roast on short-form content (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, etc.).
  

The flexibility of the word “short” actually helps the phrase gain more universal relatability, especially in online, global conversations.

Funny Saying It is as Empty as a Short in Pop Culture

While not yet a mainstream catchphrase, the saying is tailor-made for comedy skits, memes, and commentary.

Imagined Examples in Pop Culture:

• Sitcom Scene:
  A character serves a tiny salad and says, “Dinner’s ready.”
  Response: “This is as empty as a short.”
  
• Meme Format:
  
  • Expectation: A dramatic YouTube thumbnail.
    
  • Reality: 8 seconds of nothing.
    
  • Caption: “It is as Empty as a Short.”
    

This phrase has the potential to go viral in the right setting—especially among Gen Z and millennial audiences who often critique meaningless or clickbait content.

Using Funny Saying It is as Empty as a Short in Writing and Speech

Good writers and speakers know that phrasing makes all the difference. “It is as Empty as a Short” is excellent for adding wit, satire, or dry humor—especially when reviewing, critiquing, or simply reacting.

Tips for Effective Use:

• Use it sparingly: To maintain impact, don’t overuse it in a single piece.
  
• Match the tone: Works best in casual, humorous, or ironic tone.
  
• Pair it with context: Make sure the listener or reader knows what the “short” refers to.
  

Pro writing tip: Instead of saying, “This paragraph doesn’t add much,” say, “This section is as empty as a short.”
That instantly adds style and voice.

Visual Humor: How to Illustrate “It is as Empty as a Short”

This phrase also lends itself brilliantly to visual comedy. A well-designed meme or comic can amplify the message even further.

Visual Concepts for the Saying:

• Cartoon Idea:
  A person opens a gift box marked “Plot” and finds it empty. The label: “As empty as a short.”
  
• Meme:
  Two-panel image:
  
  • Panel 1: Giant expectations.
    
  • Panel 2: A single dot labeled “short.”
    Caption: “As empty as a short.”
    
• GIF Reaction:
  Someone blinking in confusion after watching a pointless 3-second reel.
  

Use visuals on blogs and social media posts to improve shareability and audience connection.

Funny Saying It is as Empty as a Short in Office or Work Humor

Every workplace is a goldmine of dry, sarcastic moments. This phrase fits right in with corporate banter, Slack messages, and cheeky emails.

Office Context Examples:

Situation	Saying
A pointless 20-minute meeting	“Well, that was as empty as a short.”
Weekly report with 0 insights	“This doc is as empty as a short.”
Corporate buzzword soup	“It sounds fancy but it is as empty as a Short.”

Injecting harmless humor into the workday boosts morale, and sayings like this one do so without sounding too edgy or offensive.

Kid-Friendly or Classroom Adaptations

While the phrase itself is not inappropriate, some younger audiences might miss the humor without explanation. However, it can be adapted creatively for educational use.

Classroom-Friendly Uses:

• In creative writing classes:
  Encourage students to describe a story that feels incomplete.
  “This story felt as empty as a short.”
  
• For humorous student feedback (lighthearted):
  “Nice attempt, but the paragraph is as empty as a short.”
  

This makes writing more engaging while gently pushing students toward better depth and structure.

Social Media Ready: Turning the Saying into a Trend

This expression has strong potential to gain traction on platforms like X (Twitter), Instagram, or TikTok.

Ways to Make It Trend:

• Use the hashtag: #AsEmptyAsAShort
  
• Post before-and-after content (expectation vs. disappointment)
  
• Create short videos reviewing movies or clips and ending with:
  “That was as empty as a short.”
  

Viral Format Suggestion:

Video Type	Caption
Duet Reaction	“I waited 5 minutes for this… It is as Empty as a Short.”
Product Review	“$50 for this? As empty as a short.”

Short content mocking short content? That’s meta humor gold.

Conclusion: Why We Love Saying Things Like “It is as Empty as a Short”

Funny saying It is as Empty as a Short stick because they’re clever, visual, and satisfyingly sarcastic. They wrap disappointment in comedy and offer a subtle jab at a world obsessed with quick, consumable, often meaningless content.

This saying works because:

• It’s timely in the digital age.
  
• It’s versatile across topics and industries.
  
• It’s funny, smart, and delightfully dry.
  

Whether you’re describing a boring meeting, a three-second video that felt like nothing, or an empty promise, this phrase delivers a tiny but mighty punchline that’s unforgettable.