What Do You Call a Deer With No Eyes? (Joke Explained)
Background, Origin, and Variations

Have you ever heard the classic joke about the deer with no eyes and been left scratching your head?
Joke: What do you call a deer with no eyes?
Answer: Noideer!
Get ready to understand the humor behind this timeless joke as we dive into the explanation and background of the answer.
Background of the Joke
The joke about the deer with no eyes has been a staple of humor for many years, and its origins are shrouded in mystery.
Some speculate that it originated from a rural area where a person with a country accent may have said “no idea” but it sounded like “noideer.”
A country twang is good fodder for comedy.
This accidental play on words is thought to have amused listeners and spawned the creation of the joke.
Others believe that the joke was created by a comedy writer with a clever way of looking at language. Could be, could be.
This person likely saw the potential for humor in the way “no idea” sounds like “noideer,” and the joke was born.
Creativity for the win!
Regardless of its origin, the joke has become a classic example of wordplay and continues to make audiences laugh to this day.
The Joke Explained
The answer to the deer joke, “noideer,” is what makes the joke so funny.
It’s a clever wordplay that combines the phrase “no idea” with the word “deer.”
This pun is what makes the joke so memorable and enjoyable.
The humor in the joke lies in its corniness.
The answer is unexpected and ridiculous, which makes it all the more amusing.
It’s the kind of joke that makes you groan, but also makes you smile at the same time. This type of humor is often referred to as “dad jokes.”
Mostly because it’s the type of joke that fathers often tell their children, with the goal of making them laugh and groan at the same time.
Another aspect of the joke that contributes to its humor is its simplicity.
The setup of the joke is straightforward, with a straightforward question, “What do you call a deer with no eyes?”
This simplicity makes the joke accessible to everyone and allows the humor to shine through.
The punchline of the joke, “noideer,” is also memorable because of its simplicity.
Anyone can tell the joke, understand the joke, and enjoy the joke.
Young kids included.
Variations of the Joke
The deer joke is so popular that it has spawned many variations over the years.
One common variation is the answer “No eye deer” instead of “noideer.”
This variation is just as funny as the original joke, but it puts a different spin on the punchline.
Another variation of the joke is:
Joke: “What Do You Call a Deer With No Eyes or Legs?”
Answer: Still No Eye Deer
This version of the joke is funny because a deer with no eyes or legs would be “still” because it couldn’t move.
The answer “still no eye deer” is also a repetition of the first joke (a call-back they call it in stand-up routines) because you still wouldn’t know what to call it, even though it wouldn’t be able to move.
In that way, this version can also be seen as a follow-up joke.
It builds upon the original joke and adds a new layer of humor by introducing a new element to the joke (the missing legs). Even though the joke is simple, it can still be expanded upon and made even funnier with a few tweaks.
In addition to these variations, there are many other versions of the joke that have been created over the years.
Some variations involve different animals, while others switch up the wordplay or add new elements to the joke.
Regardless of the variations, the underlying humor of the joke remains the same: a sneaky (and snarky) twist on words that makes us smile.
To see how they are “performed,” here’s a video of the Today Show saying these jokes (and more):






