Definition

1. Noun:

   • A theatrical performance using gestures and body movements without speech: A form of entertainment where actors convey a story, emotions, or actions solely through mime, facial expressions, and physical movement, without using spoken words.
   • (In British context) A traditional, often comedic, Christmas stage show: A specific type of musical comedy stage production for families, traditionally performed around Christmas, featuring songs, slapstick humor, and gender-crossing roles, based on fairy tales or nursery stories.

2. Verb:

   • To express or tell a story through gestures and body movements without speaking: To act out a narrative, idea, or action using only mime.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The street performer's silent pantomime of a man trapped in a box was incredibly expressive.
  • Every December, we take the children to see a classic pantomime like "Cinderella" or "Aladdin".

• Verb:

  • Can you pantomime the action of opening a jar?
  • The actor pantomimed the entire story of the shipwreck.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a pantomime": (idiomatic, British English) To be a situation characterized by exaggerated, ridiculous, or farcical behavior, often in politics or public life.
  • The parliamentary debate descended into a complete pantomime.

Variants and Related Words

• Pantomimic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of pantomime.
  • The clown's pantomimic skills were superb.
• Pantomimist (n): A performer who specializes in pantomime.
  • The famous pantomimist Marcel Marceau inspired generations.

Synonyms

• Noun: Mime, dumb show, gesture, charade.
• Verb: Mime, gesture, act out, mimic.

Related Phrases

• Pantomime horse/cow: A comic costume for two performers, representing an animal, commonly used in British pantomime and comedy.
  • The pantomime horse stumbled onto the stage to great applause.

Idioms

• "It's a pantomime!": An exclamation used to criticize a situation as being absurdly theatrical or a sham.
  • When the politicians started shouting, he muttered, "It's a pantomime!"

Noun

1. a performance using gestures and body movements without words

Verb

1. act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only
   • The acting students mimed eating an apple