pratfall
Butt-first landing
A pratfall is a comedy fall, specifically one landing on the buttocks (prat): The clown took a spectacular pratfall.
Figuratively, a pratfall is an embarrassing blunder or humiliating failure: His speech was one pratfall after another.
Comedic pastry impact
- double-takeDelayed show of surprise
- knockaboutRough, boisterous action
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
clowning · buffoonery · Chaplin · Keaton · Three Stooges · sight gag · physical comedy · pantomime
Uncontrolled rolling descent
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- slipMinor error or misstep
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
- spillAccidental liquid release
topple · flop · collapse · sprawl · plunge · landing · buttocks · backside
Clumsy social error
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- misstepError in action or judgment
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
humiliation · public failure · fiasco · debacle · flub · botch · bungle · blooper
pie-in-the-face
Comedic pastry impact
- double-takeDelayed show of surprise
- knockaboutRough, boisterous action
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
burlesque · clowning · buffoonery · Chaplin · Keaton · Three Stooges · sight gag · physical comedy · pantomime · circus
tumble
Uncontrolled rolling descent
spill · topple · flop · collapse · sprawl · plunge · landing · buttocks · backside · rear
gaffe
Clumsy social error
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- misstepError in action or judgment
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
embarrassment · humiliation · public failure · fiasco · debacle · flub · botch · bungle · blooper · fumble
- comedy termsjokes, puns, wit, sarcasm, irony
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, sarcasm
- Silent Filmsilent films, silent era, silent comedy, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton
- bloopersbloopers, blooper, fail, gag reel, outtakes
- blundersblunder, blunders, blundered, mistakes, botch
pratfallsmooth landing
Gentle aircraft arrival
graceful descent · pirouette · stick the landing · soft landing · controlled descent
pratfalltriumph
Resounding, celebrated victory
crowning achievement · flawless execution · tour de force · masterstroke · coup
pratfallwitty repartee
Quick, clever conversational exchange
bon mot · verbal wit · dry humor · wordplay · epigram