slapstick
Say it: SLAP-stik /ˈslapstɪk/ · noun
What “slapstick” means
Comedy made from silly falls, crashes and exaggerated movements.
More precisely: Comedy based on exaggerated physical actions like falls and collisions.
When to use it
Use it for physical comedy where clumsy actions, harmless collisions or exaggerated mishaps provide most of the laughs.
Memory trick
A slapstick was a two-piece wooden paddle that made a loud slap.
Similar words
physical comedy, knockabout, clowning
Where it comes from
From a clown's paddle made of two flat pieces of wood that slapped loudly.
Quick check
A performer trips over a bucket, lands in cushions and accidentally tips flour over their own head. That's…
slapstick or wordplay?
Show the answer
slapstick
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