farce
farce
Pronunciation
IPA for "farce"
fɑːs (for both American and British English)
Here's the breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
fa (fɑː)
f - voiceless labiodental fricative (similar to the "f" sound in "fit")
ɑː - long low back unrounded vowel (similar to the "ah" sound in "father")
rce (s)
s - voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the "s" sound in "sip")
Word Form Variations
The word "farce" is pretty straightforward in terms of word forms. Here's the breakdown:
Singular: farce (noun)
Plural: farces (noun)
No verb form: There isn't a commonly used verb form of "farce" in modern English. In the obsolete sense of stuffing or seasoning, there was a verb form "farced" and "farcing," but these are no longer widely used.
No adjective form: There isn't a standard adjective form derived directly from "farce" However, you can use phrases like "farcical" (adjective) to describe something that is like a farce.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
A comedic play or performance characterised by:
Improbable situations: The plot relies on highly unlikely events and coincidences. (Synonyms: slapstick comedy, burlesque, travesty) (Antonyms: drama, tragedy)
Broad humour: Relies on physical comedy, exaggerated characters, and silly situations to make people laugh. (Synonyms: slapstick, buffoonery) (Antonyms: subtle humour, wit)
Satire: May poke fun at social norms, institutions, or human behaviour. (Synonyms: satire, parody) (Antonyms: seriousness, sincerity)
A ridiculous or absurd situation in real life: The meeting turned into a farce when nobody showed up prepared. (Synonyms: mockery, sham, travesty) (Antonyms: well-organised, sensible)
Examples of Use
Literature:
Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a classic example of farce, with its witty dialogue and mistaken identities. (This is a well-known example you might already be familiar with, but it showcases farce perfectly)
P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster series often employs farcical elements with its eccentric characters and outlandish situations.
Newspapers:
A headline about a political gaffe might use the word "farce": "Campaign Rally Turns into Farce as Candidate Trips Over Podium" (This is a hypothetical example, but highlights how farce can be used in news media)
Online Publications:
A movie review on a streaming platform might describe a comedy as "devolving into farce" if the humour becomes overly reliant on slapstick or silly situations.
Entertainment Mediums:
The Three Stooges comedy shorts are prime examples of farce in action, with their physical humour and chaotic plots.
Many sitcom episodes, particularly those involving elaborate schemes or misunderstandings, can have farcical elements.
Public Discourse:
Someone might use "farce" to describe a poorly planned or chaotic event: "The attempt to organise a neighbourhood potluck descended into farce when nobody brought a plate."
These examples showcase the versatility of "farce" across different mediums and situations.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Farce
"History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."
"Life is the farce which everyone has to perform."
"There are times when one would like to hang the whole human race, and finish the farce."
"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both."
"Comedy is unusual people in real situations; farce is real people in unusual situations."
"Farce is tragedy played at a thousand revolutions per minute."
"In fact, it is a farce to call any being virtuous whose virtues do not result from the exercise of its own reason."
"Inspiration is a farce that poets have invented to give themselves importance."
"You don't know what the Chinese expect in the way of beauty. The presentation is just a farce."
"Royal Canadian Air Farce, and I was in three sketches there. And they wrote really great stuff for me."
Etymology
The word "farce" is like a double-stuffed surprise! It actually has two origins, both related to filling something up.
First Filling: Food!
The first time "farce" showed up in English (around the 14th century), it meant "forcemeat." This refers to a delicious dish made of finely chopped and seasoned meat or fish, often used as stuffing. It comes from the French word "farce" with the same meaning. This French word likely comes from the Latin verb "facire" which means "to stuff."Second Filling: Entertainment!
Fast forward to the 16th century, and English borrowed "farce" again, but this time with a whole new meaning – a kind of wacky and silly play. This meaning comes from the French "farce" too, but this time it referred to a funny interlude inserted into a serious play, like a religious drama. The French usage might have come from the idea of "stuffing" the serious play with something lighter.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Farce
Here are some phrases and idioms using the word "farce":
A complete farce: This emphasises the utter ridiculousness and absurdity of a situation. (e.g., "The meeting turned into a complete farce when nobody knew the agenda.")
French farce: This refers to a specific type of farce popular in France, often involving infidelity, mistaken identities, and bedroom shenanigans.
Reduce something to a farce: This means to make something serious or important seem insignificant and ridiculous. (e.g., "The constant bickering between the politicians reduced the debate to a farce.")
A farce of justice: This phrase is used critically to describe a situation where the legal system fails to deliver justice fairly.
Life is a farce: This expresses a cynical view of life, suggesting it's ultimately meaningless and absurd.
A comedy of errors: This is a synonym for a farce, emphasising the series of mistakes and misunderstandings that lead to the humour.
Farcical situation: This simply describes a situation that resembles a farce, being full of absurdity and improbable events.
Posts Related to Farce
Source Information
Definition of farce from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
