comedic exaggeration
Humorous extreme amplification
Comedic exaggeration is the deliberate overstatement of facts, emotions, or situations for humorous effect.
A fish story becomes funnier when the catch grows with each retelling.
The technique underlies much comedy—from slapstick pratfalls to deadpan claims that waiting in line took literally forever.
Also called hyperbole when discussed as a rhetorical device.
- punch lineJoke's culminating moment
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- parodySatirical imitation
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- fish storyBoastful exaggerated account
caricature · farce · amplification · ham it up · clown · sitcoms · laugh track · satire · absurdity · laughter · overstatement · disbelief · distortion · burlesque · cartoons · running gag · mockery · ridicule
comedic exaggerationunderstatement
Intentional diminishment for effect
litotes · meiosis · minimization · diminution · downplaying
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