no pun intended

English

A Boeing 747. If we had a proper global crackdown on carbon emissions, jet travel would be plain (no pun intended) illegal.

Phrase

no pun intended

1. Used to acknowledge that what one has just said, or what one is about to say, could be viewed as an unintended pun or double entendre. The term is likewise used sarcastically to emphasise an intended pun.
   • 1991, “Tommy the Cat”, performed by Primus:

     The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended),
     But not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into
     The heart of the alleyway.
     She knew what she wanted.
     She was lookin' for that stud bull, she was looking for that he cat.
     And that was me.
     Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...

See also

• pardon the pun, pun intended