hammy
Say it: HAM-ee /ˈhami/ · adjective
What “hammy” means
Acting with wildly exaggerated feelings and gestures.
More precisely: Exaggerated and overacted, like a bad stage performance.
Example: “His hammy fainting act when he saw the bill made the whole table laugh.”
When to use it
Use it for overacting in films, plays or everyday performances, usually with amused criticism rather than praise.
Memory trick
A ham is slang for an actor who overacts: hammy means acting that way.
Similar words
overacted, melodramatic, theatrical
Where it comes from
From ham, slang for an overacting actor.
Quick check
An actor clutches his heart, staggers across the stage and sobs hugely over a lost teaspoon. His performance is…
understated or hammy?
Show the answer
hammy
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