November 7, 2024

pratfall

Date:

Share post:

DEFINITION

noun
1. a fall on the buttocks;
2. a humiliating mishap or blunder.

EXAMPLES
1. “I didn’t really fall! I was doing a silly pratfall, and the press said I actually fell over, but I didn’t. Just one of my clowning things.” — From an interview with Emma Thompson in Newsday, December 11, 2013
2. “For the last two months, our healthcare.gov guinea pig Alice has had one frustrating moment after another. She visited the site repeatedly since its series of rolling pratfalls started Oct. 1. It never worked.” — From an op-ed by John Dickerson in the Columbia Daily Tribune (Columbia, Missouri), December 8, 2013.

DID YOU KNOW?
The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. “Prat,” a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been used in reference to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn’t until the 1930s, however, that falling on one’s prat gave rise to the term “pratfall.” The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn’t long before we gave the word its extended sense of “blunder.” Now, with “prat” rarely used as a synonym of “derriere” anymore, “pratfall” is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing on one’s behind.

Previous article
Next article
Keekli Bureau
Keekli Bureau
Dear Reader, we are dedicated to delivering unbiased, in-depth journalism that seeks the truth and amplifies voices often left unheard. To continue our mission, we need your support. Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps sustain our research, reporting and the impact we strive to make. Join us in safeguarding the integrity and transparency of independent journalism. Your support fosters a free press, diverse viewpoints and an informed democracy. Thank you for supporting independent journalism.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

हिमाचल प्रदेश कांग्रेस कमेटी की संपूर्ण प्रदेश इकाई भंग

शिमला हिमाचल प्रदेश कांग्रेस कमेटी की संपूर्ण प्रदेश इकाई, जिला अध्यक्षों और ब्लॉक कांग्रेस कमेटियों को तत्काल प्रभाव...

CARA Advocates for Legal Adoptions in India

Adoption Awareness Month is an annual event where CARA and all its stakeholders come together to raise awareness...

Swachhata Hi Seva: MYBharat Volunteers Lead Cleanliness Initiatives Nationwide

As per the directions given by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances...

NIXI, ICANN, and MeitY Collaborate to Expand India’s Presence with New gTLD Program

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Internet Corporation for...