Kids say the scariest part of being in hospital isn't doctors or needles—it's the clowns.

All a clown is supposed to do is bring joy to kids. Period. But according to a new British study, seeing images of bozos doesn't do the trick. Of the 250 kids surveyed ALL OF THEM said they disliked the hospital's clown decorations. Said one researcher,  "We found that clowns are universally disliked by children." Wow. Not a good day for red rubber nose manufacturers. Who started this clowns are funny thing anyway? Most people we know find them frightening. And hey, if clowns don't scare you, trying to pronounce the name for the fear of clowns will: Coulrophobia. Who's laughing now?

Click on an image to view the Clowns: Funny or Freaky? Gallery!