5 best jokes from Big Bang Theory

There is plenty of humor to unpack from the 279 episodes of The Big Bang Theory. The popular CBS sitcom stars the brilliant but socially awkward physicist Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) and his nerdy group of friends.

When a theoretical physicist, an experimental physicist, an astrophysicist, and an engineer come together, some of the nerdiest and the best punch lines on TV are born. Their quirky behavior and unique personality add even more flavor to their jokes.

Here are some of the humorous lines and comebacks from The Big Bang Theory casts.

Disclaimer: This list is purely based on the author's opinions. Reader's discretion is advised.

Big Bang Theory: 5 best jokes that stood out in the show

1) Sheldon is "screwed"

Leonard and Sheldon in "The Desperation Emanation" (Image via Netflix)

In Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 5, "The Desperation Emanation," Sheldon is scared that he may be in a relationship with Amy after the latter asks him to meet her parents. He seeks Leonard's help to understand what it means, who tells him that what he previously said about Amy being his friend and not his girlfriend, can't be said anymore.

When Sheldon asks his friend what he can do about it, Leonard asks:

"Have you considered telling her how you feel?"

Sheldon replies saying:

"I'm a physicist, not a hippie."

Leonard explains:

"Well, let me see if I can explain it to you using Physics. What are you if you are attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis?"

Sheldon replies:

"Screwed."

Sheldon realizes what Leonard meant, and the latter says:

"There you go.'"

2) Sheldon's more complex version of the rock-paper-scissors game

Raj and Sheldon in "The Lizard-Spock Expansion" (Image via Netflix)

Sheldon Cooper introduces his expanded version of the rock-paper-scissors game in season 2 episode 8. He argues with Raj and Leonard about what show to watch on TV and suggests they play rock-paper-scissors-lizard-spock because the OG game is prone to being tied. Explaining the rules, Sheldon says:

"Scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitated lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has, rock crushes scissors."

Also read: Who did Bob Newhart's play in Big Bang Theory?

3) Sheldon's nerdy grammar burn on Leonard

Leonard and Sheldon in "The Codpiece Topology" (Image via Netflix)

In Big Bang Theory season 2 episode 2, "The Codpiece Topology," Leonard says that he's happy that Penny is finally moving on. He adds that it gives him the freedom to also move on in his life. Baffled, Howard asks him to clarify if he had just been holding back before, to which he affirms, that he was doing so "out of respect" to Penny.

Raj then asks him about the ten years he was single before Penny, and Leonard responds that he had dated "plenty of women" before. He said:

"I've dated plenty of women. There was Joyce Kim, Leslie Winkle."

Sheldon, the grammar police, spots the error and pounces on Leonard, saying:

"Notify the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary, the world plenty has been redefined to mean two."

4) Sheldon takes a dig at his brother

Sheldon's application video in "The Colonization Application" (Image via Netflix)

Sheldon is smart, and he knows it. In Big Bang Theory season 8 episode 17, "The Colonization Application," he gives a different version of his famous line, while taking a dig at his brother. The line being:

"I'm not insane, my mother had me tested."

Sheldon alters the line to:

"I'm exceedingly smart. I graduated college at fourteen. While my brother was getting an STD, I was getting a Ph.D. Penicillin can't take this away."

5) Pictionary with Sheldon, the science nerd

Sheldon playing Pictionary in "The Re-Entry Minimization" (Image via Netflix)

The CBS sitcom's season 6 episode 4, "The Re-Entry Minimization," has a fan-favorite moment when Penny and Amy take on Sheldon and Leonard for a game of pictionary.

While the ladies can quickly guess what's drawn on the board, Sheldon confuses Leonard with his drawing of a dead woman holding a sparkling vial in her hand. He was perplexed to discover that the word was 'nail polish'. Sheldon asks Leonard: