“Rimshot” has a specific literal meaning in music, plus a familiar showbiz/comedy meaning.

Quick definition

  • In drumming, a rimshot is when the drummer hits the drumhead and the metal rim at the same time to create a loud, sharp accent.
  • In comedy/TV, a rimshot is that quick “ba‑dum‑tss!” drum sting used right after a joke or punchline to emphasize it.

So if someone says “cue the rimshot” after a corny joke, they mean that little drum flourish you hear in old-school stand‑up and variety shows.

Example: A comedian tells a cheesy one‑liner, the drummer hits a sharp snare

  • cymbal “ba‑dum‑tss!” — that’s a rimshot.

Other minor usage

  • In basketball, a “rim shot” can also mean a shot that hits the rim of the hoop instead of going cleanly in.

TL;DR: “Rimshot” usually means the sharp drum hit (or drum joke-sting) used to punctuate a punchline; in music it’s a snare technique, and in basketball it can mean a shot that bounces off the rim.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.