laurel and hardy
Definition
Proper noun * Laurel and Hardy: A famous American slapstick comedy duo, consisting of Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892–1957), who made many films together from the 1920s to the 1950s. The name refers to the pair as a single, iconic comedic entity.
Usage
The term "Laurel and Hardy" is used to refer to the comedy team itself, their collective body of work, or their distinctive style of humor. * My grandfather loves watching Laurel and Hardy movies. * Their act is often compared to the classic routines of Laurel and Hardy. * The phrase "another fine mess" is famously associated with Laurel and Hardy.
Advanced Usage
- The duo's names are often used together as a hyphenated adjective (Laurel-and-Hardy) to describe a situation involving a comically mismatched pair or a chaotic, bumbling effort.
- The two interns had a Laurel-and-Hardy moment trying to carry the large mirror.
- The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe any pair of people who, often despite their differences, are inextricably linked in a partnership that results in humorous chaos.
- Those two in accounting are like Laurel and Hardy; their projects are always behind schedule but somehow get done.
Variants and Related Words
- Stan Laurel: (Proper noun) The thinner, more childlike and often weeping member of the duo, who was also the creative force behind many of their gags.
- Oliver Hardy: (Proper noun) The heavier, more pompous and frequently exasperated member of the duo, often recognizable by his trademark tie-twiddle and direct address to the camera.
Synonyms
- Comedy duo: A general term for a pair of performers who work together in comedy.
- Slapstick team: A pair specializing in physical comedy involving chases, collisions, and pie fights.
Related Idioms
- Like Laurel and Hardy: Used to describe a pair who are comically incompetent or whose collaboration leads to funny disasters.
- Watching them try to assemble the furniture was like watching Laurel and Hardy.
Noun
-
United States slapstick comedy duo who made many films together
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