Laughing Along With A Limerick

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Not many more until Christmas – eek! Anyway, let’s forget about that for now. Here’s a new limerick challenge. Your new word is

SHOPPING

Last week’s prompt was SCALE. You came up with some great limericks:

Nicola Daly:

When the old man drank whisky and ale

He’d tell everyone he was hearty and hale

Then he lifted his kilt

Said, ‘See how well I’m built

Wouldn’t you say that’s a 10 on the scale?’

Scrambled Not Fried:

Letting the Scale Wait

He hoped that his weight had gone down
‘til he stepped on the scale with a frown.
He’d gotten no fatter
but it just didn’t matter:
almost all of his toenails were brown.

He stood there, embarrassed but quiet;
stopped giving a shit about diet.
Afraid of derision,
he made his decision:
His wife had some polish. He’d try it.

He painted his nails and he smiled.
He thought they looked good (kinda wild!)
He’d hidden the brown
so he danced all around
like a chubby but happy young child.

The Limerick Guy:

It’s the season of my spreading ass

But thankfully, it soon will pass,

Because when I regale

The horror story of my scale…

it redefines “critical mass!”

Frank Hubeny:

Whale On Scale For Sale

There once was a scale on sale

and a guy who weighted more than a whale.

He decided to see

what he weighed needlessly

and then that was the end of the scale.

Keith Edgar Channing:

Scales are what we use today,

Continuously learning to play

A piano by ear

Leading students to fear

Every harsh word their tutor might say.

TanGental:

All political careers…

Where once [*] topped the ‘most popular’ scale

He’s now been marked down as a fail

Sad to relate,

What sealed his fate

Is he’s a male, pale, and very stale…

*insert one of your choosing from Tone, Gordon, David, Boris, Keir…

Priorhouse Blog:

It is true that success has no scale,

Yet many weigh it by a money trail.

But contentment is in our song,

In the heart, from working strong –

from keeping the right air in our sail.

Kim Smyth:

Lately I’ve been feeling like a whale

I wish I could afford a brand new scale

But then I’d know

And on a diet I’d go

So for now, I’ll just try to curtail.

Graeme Sandford:

The scales of the fish

ought not be on a dish

but to be

in the sea,

is all that I wish. 

The Bag Lady:

Stepping on her cheeks turned white pale

Shocked at something wrong with this scale

She stepped off real quick

Poked it with a stick

The scale read was written in braille!

Sillyfrog’s Blog:

Tub Toy

On Amazon, I spied a toy in a bathtub “on sale”,

So, I ordered my baby that cute little blue whale.

When the mailman got tired,

A forklift was hired.

I’d been tricked by the industrial vat used for scale!

John W. Howell:

There once was a man from Vale,

Who’s doctor said resembles a whale.

Each appointment he took,

Had the staff very shook.

Hoping he would not crush the scale.

Grooves or Grammar:

It’s the week of the Black Friday sale,

And my spending is right off the scale. 

‘Cos I do love a deal,

Though it’s odd, you might feel,

That I bought an inflatable whale.

Christine Mallaband-Brown:

The scale of the property “immense”

It even had a ten mile fence…

With lakes and trees

And a hive for bees

The sale of the palace was tense…

***

I went for a walk with a friend

Their knowledge I wanted to lend

But the scale of my thought

Was not very well sought

She said I was right round the bend!

Murray Clarke:

Murray stepped onto the bathroom scales.

What he saw made him feel a little frail:

Under eight stones was not a good feeling-

He looked so gaunt and his skin was peeling!

But, after a Full English breakfast, he resembled a whale.

Pensitivity101:

Scale is a measure of size,

Sometimes it’s quite a surprise,

Being big, fat or thin

Who knows where to begin

To make perfection the prize.

Stine Writing:

My horse eats his hay by the bale
He looks like a newly born whale
The vet will be mad
at the food that he’s had
And refuse to put him on a scale

I play the pianos grand scale
It sounds more like a bucket and pale
I’ll need lessons soon
To play one good tune
Or put the piano for sale

In the mirror I look like a whale
When I walk I leave a deep swale
I just have to stop
So the pounds can then drop
Before I put my foot on a scale

Dog Paddling Through Life:

It’s Curtains for you, Dexter!

His zoomies led Dexter to scale

the curtain, where he caught a nail.

It caused a big tear.

Jen soon started to swear

and Dexter thought best to turn tail.

Brazanne Muse:

as a child I could scale up a tree

without bruising or scraping a knee

now my hip gives me jip

makes me trip and then slip

on the leaves that have fallen like me.

Poetisatinta:

The Golden Dragon

There once was a dragon so bold,

With scales made of shimmering gold,

He soared through the skies,

With a sparkle in his eye,

And stories of treasures untold.

Now a fierce knight full of might,

Set out to capture him one night,

He aimed at the beast,

But the dragon, at least,

Just laughed – that gave him quite a fright!

Olaf Sturlasson’s Poetry Corner:

There was a young woman called Jen

Who had a terrible taste in men

Her friends rated them all

The short and the tall

On a scale from one to ten.

Cathy Cade:

A young salmon swimming upriver

leapt high, making fishermen shiver.

The bright sunlight flashed

on its scales, as it dashed

to its mate with new life to deliver.

John McGuiggan:

Beethoven

The descending scale of the notes that he wrote,

 da da da dum

da da da dum

Would eventually become

 Via  the BBC

notes for Europe’s oppressed

to arise and resist

Their dark days of  tyranny.

Therapy Bits:

“Let me tell you a tale,” I’d regale,

Of a fish with a shimmering scale;

It danced in the light,

Such a glittering sight,

As it splashed its way off down the vale.

Teleportingweena:

There once was a great big snail

So huge he tipped the scale

When they went to weigh him

It was chaos and mayhem

And in the end it was a fail.

iMartist:

Heavy!

He stepped upon the scale

“25 stone!” he began to wail

How can that be?

I only drink high tea!

And delicious pastries, how can I fail?

Mark Fraidenburg:

The bathroom scale doesn’t lie.

You step on. The numbers don’t try

to comfort or spare you

just measure what’s there. You

step off. The truth doesn’t die.

Sexagenarian Scribbler:

He failed to wow me on our first date

On a scale of one to ten I’d rate

Him a humble three

But he soon grew on me

Now he’s my one true love, my soulmate.

Lauren Scott, Author:

With holidays around the bend

sugar and spices make a great blend

though calories will prevail

so stay off the scale

in the new year, you will amend.

Treehugger:

The mountain I intended to scale,

Last moment I decided to bale,

I was so ashamed,

My enthusiasm had wained.

Come on girl, get back on the trail.

The Elephant’s Trunk:

A dragon went out for some pampering fare.

“Please file my nails with the greatest of care!

They are really quite long,

Chipped and cracked … it’s just wrong!

And my scales should be polished with flair!”

***

Image credit: Pinterest

68 responses to “Laughing Along With A Limerick”

  1. nikidaly70 Avatar
    nikidaly70

    I’ve still to do Christmas shopping
    And all the floors need mopping
    There’s the oven to clean
    And the windows to sheen
    But do you know? I think I’ll go out bopping!

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I can just see you doing that 😂😂😂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. nikidaly70 Avatar
        nikidaly70

        Oh all the time!! 😆

        Liked by 2 people

  2. That one’s easy!

    SHOPPING

    I’ve been out all day, Christmas shopping.
    The number of bags is jaw-dropping.
    My outing was pleasant;
    I’ve bought all the presents.
    Next month’s overdraft will be whopping.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. I know just how you feel 😂

      Liked by 2 people

  3. the spree

    was one sort of mystery

    misery loving company

    and tho cryin alone

    i took out my half charged phone

    and sent the text

    Liked by 4 people

  4. Shopping My Life Away

    With nothing to do I went shopping.
    The eyes in my head were a-popping.
    I saw this. I saw that.
    Everything thing I looked at
    asked me why I don’t buy? Price is dropping!

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Very good, Frank 😊

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Blessings, Esther!

        Liked by 2 people

  5. […] Esther Chilton offers “shopping” for this week’s Laughing Along With A Limerick. […]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They are such fun. Thanks, Beth.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. […] Prompt word: “shopping” November 24, 2025 […]

    Liked by 1 person

  7. when shopping for new clothes to wear
    I consider the tones in my hair
    I prefer not to clash
    but with limited cash
    I can look like I dress for a dare!

    💞Suzanne

    Liked by 10 people

    1. That’s such fun! Thank you, Suzanne 💕

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you Esther, it’s good to make some time in life to share some fun 💞

        Liked by 2 people

  8. […] written for ‘Laughing Along with A Limerick’ hosted by Esther Chilton, who has given us the limerick challenge this week to use the word […]

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Shopping’s the one thing she’d craved
    And when she’d bring home the bargains, she’d raved.
    When he’d lament
    About what she’d spent….
    She’d say, “Just look at the money I saved!

    Liked by 5 people

  10. squirreljan Avatar
    squirreljan

    There was once was a girl who loved shopping

    At windows her eyes were a-popping

    At a dress and a ring

    But her cards wouldn’t ping

    As her debts were already whopping

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I know that feeling 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. With those dread words, ‘let’s go shopping’
    My heart sank, all hope was dropping.
    She said, ‘it’ll be fun,’
    And, ‘you’ll be glad you’ve come’
    When I knew the truth: hells a’popping!

    Whenever I spend some time shopping,
    There’s often a dash of flipping and flopping
    I’m in a prison
    Of my own indecision
    And have no way of ever stopping

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Your love of shopping shows through strongly here, Geoff 😂

      Liked by 2 people

  12. […] Three Things Challenge #MM253 Laughing Along With A Limerick […]

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Shopping is such a big chore
    Buying stuff seems to cost more
    The eggs are a price
    That has gone up twice
    So I get what’s cheapest in the store!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Don’t blame you!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. 😀 I spent too much this weekend!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I did yesterday!

        Liked by 2 people

  14. From the plane as I was dropping,

    A string on my finger kept popping.

    I know it’s there,

    So I wouldn’t dare.

    But did forget the ripcord while shopping

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I like this very much, John. Thank you.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. So glad. Thanks, Esther.

        Liked by 2 people

  15. […] Laughing Along With A Limerick […]

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Love your limerick. So funny 😂😂😂

      Liked by 2 people

  16. […] with that, here is my limerick for this week’s Laughing Along With a Limerick challenge. The challenge word this week is […]

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Whilst shopping one day at the mall
    Denise got a worrying call
    “I have to be frank,”
    said the man from the bank,
    “you no longer have money at all.”

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I know that feeling!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. After feasting all day, let’s go shopping

    Black Friday prices are surely dropping.

    Get in line and wait all night

    Open up your wallet, don’t be tight

    So get off your butt, and let’s get hopping.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I’m with you, Pete!

      Liked by 2 people

  19. When the newspapers moved out to Wapping,
    I thought that my Mum would be hopping,
    But instead of a rage
    At losing Dad’s wage,
    She just said, “Come on, let’s go shopping!”

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Witty and fun 😊

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks, Esther 😁🙏

        Liked by 2 people

  20. […] This week, Esther selected the word ‘shopping‘ as the theme for our limerick 😃https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/11/24/laughing-along-with-a-limerick-259/ […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Ah! The joy of Christmas shopping

    Fortnum and Mason

    Selfridges

    John Lewis

    Harrods

    And Liberty

    with all the Christmas lights to see

    If only I had the money

    But for me

    It’s Aldi and the pound shop

    And home on the bus for tea.

    Liked by 4 people

  22. […] on Esther’s most recent Limerick […]

    Liked by 1 person

  23. There was a rich lady called Tee
    who went on a mall shopping spree
    Some would say her deep urge
    for a pre-Christmas splurge,
    But the term is… ‘retail therapy’

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Very clever, Nicole🥰

      Liked by 2 people

  24. window shopping

    is my delight

    got no money

    cos I’m not very bright

    got to learn to rip off folk

    become a consumer

    get out of this boat

    Liked by 2 people

  25. dutifullydeer6ab803ea0e Avatar
    dutifullydeer6ab803ea0e

    Glad to see the limericks making a reappearance.

    Here are two on “shopping”:

    The place that she chose for her shopping
    involved a short trip down to Wapping.
    She bought East End chic
    but then felt like a freak
    when uptown in the clubs she went bopping.

    I went shopping in Galaxy Mall –
    and for safety I went with a pal –
    but those sequins and boots
    and those fancy zoot suits
    would look better on some other gal.

    Great idea! See you soon,
    Susan

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for your two!

      Liked by 1 person

  26. My back is aching,my arms are dropping,

    As I struggled along with my Christmas shopping.

    The money tree is bare ,

    I don’t think you have a care .

    It must feel like its had a good chopping .

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I think a lot of us can relate to that after spending too much on Christmas gifts!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks Esther

        Liked by 2 people

  27. […] Laughing Along With A Limerick […]

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Here is my limerick for shopping

    https://wp.me/p3RE1e-ndt

    Liked by 2 people

  29. […] for Esther’s Laughing AlongWith A Limerick #259. The promptword is ‘shopping’. This is my […]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Excellent story, Nancy and a song to go with it 😊

      Like

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