soap opera

Meaning

A soap opera is a long-running television serial characterized by melodrama, complex character relationships, and highly dramatic storylines. They are broadcast frequently, often daily, and get their name because they were originally sponsored by soap manufacturers. The tone is highly dramatic, emotional, and sometimes unrealistic.

Examples

• My grandmother has been watching the same soap opera for over thirty years.

  My grandmother has been watching the same soap opera for over thirty years.

• The plot of that soap opera is so ridiculous, but I just can't stop watching it.

  The plot of that soap opera is so ridiculous, but I just can't stop watching it.

• She got her first acting role playing a villain on a daytime soap opera.

  She got her first acting role playing a villain on a daytime soap opera.

• Their family drama is starting to feel like a soap opera.

  Their family drama is starting to feel like a soap opera.

• Soap operas are famous for dramatic cliffhangers at the end of every episode.

  Soap operas are famous for dramatic cliffhangers at the end of every episode.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I don't like to watch soap music.

  ✓ I don't like to watch soap operas.

  'Soap opera' is a fixed term. The word 'opera' refers to the dramatic, theatrical nature of the stories, not classical singing or music.

• ✗ This television show is a soap.

  ✓ This television show is a soap opera.

  While native speakers sometimes shorten it to 'soaps' in very casual speech (e.g., 'daytime soaps'), 'soap opera' is the correct full term. Using just 'soap' can cause confusion with cleaning products.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The actor became famous after starring in a popular daytime ___.

  💡 A daily dramatic show with exaggerated plots and relationships.

  Show answer

  soap opera

• I don't like that show; there's too much fake drama, like a ___.

  💡 Used figuratively to describe a situation full of exaggerated drama.

  Show answer

  soap opera