The Three Stooges
Nyuk-nyuk comedians
The Three Stooges were an American comedy team known for slapstick routines featuring face slaps, eye pokes, and exaggerated physical abuse.
The group, active from 1922 to 1970, cycled through members but typically featured Moe Howard as the bowl-cut leader.
Their short films remain cultural touchstones for lowbrow physical comedy.
The name now describes any trio of bumbling incompetents: Those three stooges in accounting lost the whole file.
Open-handed blow
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- pie-in-the-faceComedic pastry impact
- bonkPlayful head strike
- conkBlow to the skull
physical comedy · knockabout · mugging · boink · clonk · hammering · sawing · pliers
Male nickname
- vaudevilliansStage entertainers from variety shows
- comediansPerformers who provoke laughter
- actorsThose playing roles
- Columbia PicturesAmerican film production company
short films · Hollywood · showbiz · screen · icons · legends · trio · ensemble
Absurd, laughable situation
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- shtickPerformer's signature gimmick
buffoonery · antics · clowning · tomfoolery · mayhem · chaos · bungling · incompetence
Quality from past eras
- classicOf lasting excellence
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
- retroEvoking recent past
- rerunsPreviously aired episodes
syndication · matinee · anthology · revival · timeless · retrospective · memorabilia · collectibles
slap
Open-handed blow
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- pie-in-the-faceComedic pastry impact
- bonkPlayful head strike
conk · physical comedy · knockabout · mugging · boink · clonk · hammering · sawing · pliers · wiseacre
Larry
Male nickname
- vaudevilliansStage entertainers from variety shows
- comediansPerformers who provoke laughter
- actorsThose playing roles
Columbia Pictures · short films · Hollywood · showbiz · screen · icons · legends · trio · ensemble · troupers
farce
Absurd, laughable situation
shtick · buffoonery · antics · clowning · tomfoolery · mayhem · chaos · bungling · incompetence · mishap
wise-guy
Sarcastic, flippant person
- knuckleheadFoolish, dense person
vintage
Quality from past eras
- classicOf lasting excellence
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
- retroEvoking recent past
reruns · syndication · matinee · anthology · revival · timeless · retrospective · memorabilia · collectibles · restoration
The Three StoogesOscar Wilde
dry wit · subtle humor · drawing room comedy · witty repartee · comedy of manners
The Three Stoogeshigh culture
Society's esteemed artistic traditions
opera · ballet · Shakespeare · chamber music · Fred Astaire