prankster
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who habitually plays tricks or practical jokes on other people; a playful troublemaker.
Usage
A "prankster" is someone who enjoys planning and executing jokes, often elaborate or surprising, at the expense of others. The term can imply a sense of mischief and playful intent, though the jokes can sometimes cause minor annoyance or inconvenience. It is used to describe a person's character or a specific role someone takes.
Examples
- The office prankster put fake spiders in everyone's desk drawers.
- My brother is quite the prankster; he's always finding new ways to surprise us.
- The famous prankster called the radio station pretending to be the mayor.
Advanced Usage
- "Notorious prankster": Used to describe someone widely known for their mischievous jokes.
- The notorious campus prankster was finally caught after filling the fountain with soap.
- "Prankster spirit": Refers to the mischievous attitude or inclination to play jokes.
- He did it all in good fun, with a pure prankster spirit.
Variants and Related Words
- Prank (n): The trick or practical joke itself.
- His latest prank involved switching the salt and sugar.
- Prankish (adj): Having the qualities of a prankster; mischievous.
- She gave me a prankish smile before revealing the joke.
Synonyms
- Trickster: Someone who deceives or plays tricks. (Can have a more negative connotation than "prankster".)
- Joker: A person who jokes, especially habitually.
- Mischief-maker: A person who causes trouble, often in a playful way.
- Practical joker: A person who plays elaborate tricks. (This is a more specific, descriptive phrase.)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To have a mischievous streak": To have a tendency to play harmless tricks or cause playful trouble. This describes a characteristic similar to that of a prankster.
- He's generally serious, but he has a mischievous streak.
Noun
- someone who plays practical jokes on others