“Can you give me a lift?”/“Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.”
A popular joke about asking someone “for a lift” (meaning transportation) is:
“So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me, ‘Can you give me a lift?’ I said. ‘Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’”
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997, when it was credited to British comedian Time Vine. British comedian Tommy Cooper (1921-1984) is frequently given credit, but there is no evidence that the joke is older than the 1990s.
Wikipedia: Time Vine
Timothy Mark “Tim” Vine (born 4 March 1967) is an English writer, actor, comedian and presenter, known for his quick-fire puns and his role on the BBC series Not Going Out until his departure in 2012. He has released a number of DVDs of his stand-up comedy and has written several joke books.
Google Groups: alt.cuddle
Silly stuff
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
1/9/97
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Here’s a selection of quotes from Tim Vines - I’ve seen him a couple of times on TV and he’s extrememly funny.
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“So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me ‘Can you give me a lift?’ I said ‘Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’”
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
Its the way you tell ‘em
Mitchell
10/25/98
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“So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me “Can you give me a lift?” I said “Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’”
3 June 1999, The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), “The Diary by Tom Shields and Ken Smith, pg. 19:
JUST a suggestion next time someone asks you: “Can you give me a lift?” Look them up and down and tell them: “Sure. You look great. The world’s your oyster. Go for it.”
Google Groups: alt.fan.caesar-geezer
Tommy Cooper one liners:
Trouble
8/30/99
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“So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me “Can you give me a lift?” I said “Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’”
26 February 2001, Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), “Scientists Crack the Jokes at Last” by Stephen Wright, pg. 19:
A pedestrian asked a motorist for a lift. The motorist said: “You look great, the world’s your oyster, you can achieve anything.” Then he drove off.
Google Groups: nz.soc.queer
One line Cooperisms
Calum Bennachie
9/5/03
We seem to have had a lot of serious stuff on here for a while, and frankly I think we need a little humour. These quotes from Tommy Copper were sent to us at work from Tasmania.
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16. So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me “Can you give me a lift?” I said “Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’
Twitter
David Keffen ☜═㋡
@DavidKeffen
So this bloke leans in my car window and says “Can you give me a lift?” I said “Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’
8:09 AM - 9 Aug 2008
Google Books
Man Walks into a Bar:
Over 6,000 of the Most Hilarious Jokes, Funniest Insults and Gut-Busting One-Liners
By Stephen Arnott and Mike Haskins
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press
2007
Pg. ?:
I was getting into my car, and this man says to me, “Can you give me a lift?” I said, “Sure. You look great. The world’s your oyster. Go for it.”
Twitter
Aby Gulyani
@aby
So I was getting into my car, this bloke says 2 me “Can u give me a lift?” I said “Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.”
7:02 AM - 6 Feb 2009
Google Books
The Biggest Ever Tim Vine Joke Book
By Tim Vine
London: Century
2010
Pg. 107:
So I was getting into my car, and this bloke said to me, he said can you give me a lift? I said, sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.
Google Books
More One Liners, Jokes and Gags
Compiled by Grant Tucker
London: Biteback Publishing
2013
Pg. ?:
I was getting into my car and this bloke says to me, ‘Can you give me a lift?’ I said, ‘Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’