slapstick
Other forms: slapsticks
Slapstick is a ridiculous, exaggerated type of humor. Old movies by Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers are good examples of slapstick.
Imagine the laughs you get with the strategic use of a whoopee cushion, and you'll get a sense of what slapstick is. Pratfalls and other physical comedy are an important element of slapstick, from Buster Keaton films, to "I Love Lucy," to "Home Alone." The word slapstick comes from a theatrical device invented in the 16th century—a slap stick, two slats of wood that could be smacked together to mimic the sound of a slap.
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a boisterous comedy with chases and collisions and practical jokestype of:comedylight and humorous drama with a happy ending
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acoustic device consisting of two paddles hinged together; used by an actor to make a loud noise without inflicting injury when striking someonetype of:acoustic devicea device for amplifying or transmitting sound
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characterized by horseplay and physical action
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Vocabulary lists containing slapstick
Most of these words are built from two common terms, and yet their meanings don't necessarily add up to what you'd expect. Even if you recognise and use these terms sometimes, do you know their origins and definitions?
Shaker Heights seems like an idyllic suburb, but tensions between the conventional Richardson family and their mysterious new tenant come to a head during a custody dispute that divides the town.
Here's your cue: Put this list in the spotlight and learn all about theater. Review genres of drama, parts of a play, stage directions, and more. Set the stage for vocabulary and you're sure to steal the show.