slapstick
Pie-throwing humor genre
Slapstick is broad physical comedy—pratfalls, pie-in-the-face gags, exaggerated violence played for laughs.
The term comes from a hinged paddle that makes a loud slap when actors pretend to hit each other.
The Three Stooges specialized in slapstick.
As an adjective: slapstick humor, slapstick routines.
Comedic fall on buttocks
- pie-in-the-faceComedic pastry impact
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- knockaboutRough, boisterous action
- collisionForceful contact between objects
Wordless expressive performer
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- Keystone CopsInept cinematic policemen
- gesturesExpressive body movements
- muggingRobbery with violence
pratfall · chase scene · double-take · exaggerated · wordless · visual gag · physical comedy · intertitle
Absurd, laughable situation
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- shtickPerformer's signature gimmick
- parodySatirical imitation
burlesque · spoof · sketch · jest · jape · antic · caper · tomfoolery
State of being diverse
- revueMusical variety entertainment
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
- folliesUnwise acts or fanciful structures
minstrel · sketch · improv · burlesque · repertory · troupe · blackout · sight gag
Silent-era film comedian
- KeatonHollywood surname, multiple stars
- LaurelPerson's given name
- HardyName connoting toughness
- Marx BrothersClassic comedy team
Lloyd · Three Stooges · Lucille Ball · Benny Hill · Mr. Bean · Rowan Atkinson · Jim Carrey · Jerry Lewis
Clumsily incompetent
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
- bungleFail through clumsiness
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
klutz · butterfingers · awkward · ungainly · oafish · ham-handed · maladroit · gawky
Excessively dramatic or extravagant
- outlandishStrikingly weird or foreign-seeming
- cartoonishAbsurdly exaggerated in style
- absurdWildly illogical
- ridiculousInviting scorn through absurdity
ludicrous · preposterous · overacting · hammy · theatrical · melodramatic · flamboyant · bombastic
pratfall
Comedic fall on buttocks
- pie-in-the-faceComedic pastry impact
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- knockaboutRough, boisterous action
collision · spill · trip · stumble · fall · slip · crash · bonk · whack · smack
mime
Wordless expressive performer
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- Keystone CopsInept cinematic policemen
- gesturesExpressive body movements
mugging · pratfall · chase scene · double-take · exaggerated · wordless · visual gag · physical comedy · intertitle · black-and-white
farce
Absurd, laughable situation
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- shtickPerformer's signature gimmick
parody · burlesque · spoof · sketch · jest · jape · antic · caper · tomfoolery · horseplay
variety
State of being diverse
- revueMusical variety entertainment
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
follies · minstrel · sketch · improv · burlesque · repertory · troupe · blackout · sight gag · prop comedy
Chaplin
Silent-era film comedian
Lloyd · Marx Brothers · Three Stooges · Lucille Ball · Benny Hill · Mr. Bean · Rowan Atkinson · Jim Carrey · Jerry Lewis · Abbott
bumbling
Clumsily incompetent
stumble · klutz · butterfingers · awkward · ungainly · oafish · ham-handed · maladroit · gawky · inept
over-the-top
Excessively dramatic or extravagant
- outlandishStrikingly weird or foreign-seeming
- cartoonishAbsurdly exaggerated in style
- absurdWildly illogical
ridiculous · ludicrous · preposterous · overacting · hammy · theatrical · melodramatic · flamboyant · bombastic · extravagant
guffaw
Boisterous burst of mirth
- uproariousExtremely and loudly comedic
- howlProlonged mournful cry
- belly laughLoud, uncontrolled amusement
roar · cackle · snort · giggle · chuckle · snicker · chortle · titter · hilarity · hysterics
- sitcomssitcom, sitcoms, episode, episodic, season
- stage comedypratfalls, sketches, skits, vaudeville, physical comedy
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
- comic devicespuns, wordplay, comic relief, witty banter, jests
- comic theaterburlesque, cabaret, farce, musical comedy, operetta
- Elizabethan comedyTwelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice
slapstickboring
Failing to engage interest
dull · humorless · humourless · unhumorous · tedious
- slapstick comedyHumor from physical mishaps
- slapstick humorComedy of physical mishaps
- slapstick comicPhysical comedy performer