slapstick comedy

Meaning

A style of humor that involves exaggerated physical activity, clumsy actions, and harmless violence (like slipping on banana peels or getting hit in the face with pies). It relies on visual gags rather than clever dialogue to make people laugh.

Examples

• The silent film era was famous for its brilliant use of slapstick comedy.

  The silent film era was famous for its brilliant use of slapstick comedy.

• I find physical slapstick comedy much more entertaining than dry, sarcastic humor.

  I find physical slapstick comedy much more entertaining than dry, sarcastic humor.

• The kids were laughing hysterically at the slapstick comedy in the animated movie.

  The kids were laughing hysterically at the slapstick comedy in the animated movie.

• While some critics find it cheap, I still appreciate well-timed slapstick comedy.

  While some critics find it cheap, I still appreciate well-timed slapstick comedy.

• The play features a lot of slapstick comedy, including actors falling off chairs.

  The play features a lot of slapstick comedy, including actors falling off chairs.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The movie relies heavily on slap comedy to get laughs.

  ✓ The movie relies heavily on slapstick comedy to get laughs.

  The term originates from a physical device called a 'slapstick' used to make a loud sound, so the full word is required.

• ✗ He is great at doing slapscomedy.

  ✓ He is great at doing slapstick comedy.

  The words 'slapstick' and 'comedy' should be written as two separate words, not combined into a single compound word.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Charlie Chaplin was a true pioneer of ___.

  💡 Physical, clumsy comedy famous in silent films.

  Show answer

  slapstick comedy

• I don't really like jokes that rely on dialogue; I prefer visual ___.

  💡 Humor involving falling over, tripping, or physical mishaps.

  Show answer

  slapstick comedy