sad clown
Weeping circus performer
A sad clown is a performer whose painted smile contrasts with melancholy eyes or demeanor—the classic image of comedy masking tragedy.
The phrase extends to anyone who uses humor to hide inner pain: He's the sad clown of the group, always joking but clearly struggling.
The figure draws on the archetype of Pagliacci, the heartbroken clown who must perform.
- tearsViolent pulls apart
- crocodile tearsInsincere show of sadness
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- circusTraveling entertainment with performers
- big topMain circus tent
circus act · painted · painted smile · mime · tragic · harlequin · greasepaint · red nose · loneliness · comedy · comic relief · mask · weeping · laughter · bittersweet · performer · whiteface · pathos
- comedy typessatire, parody, farce, slapstick, pratfalls
- commedia dell'arteHarlequin, Pierrot, Scaramouche, stock characters, commedia
sad clowncourt jester
Royal household entertainer
class clown · carnival barker · stand-up comedian · ringmaster
sad, clown, sadly, sadness, sadder, saddest, clowns, clowned, clowning