Bad Breath

Why makes this Joke funny?

This joke plays on the indirect ways in which we might communicate to someone that they have bad breath without directly telling them. Instead of confronting the issue head-on (which can be uncomfortable or perceived as rude), the humor comes from the imaginative and indirect approaches suggested:

1. "Well, I`m bored... let`s go brush our teeth." - This suggests that brushing teeth is a casual activity to pass time, even though we usually brush our teeth for hygiene. The humor arises from the pretense that it`s just something to do out of boredom, rather than a hint about the person`s breath.
2. "I`ve got to make a phone call, hold this gum in your mouth for me, will you." - It`s funny because nobody asks someone to hold gum in their mouth while making a phone call. The humor comes from the absurdity of the situation, and the implied message that the person should actually chew the gum to freshen their breath.

The humor essentially stems from the imaginative ways of dropping hints, the effort to avoid direct confrontation, and the absurdity of the proposed solutions.