shtick
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A characteristic or rehearsed piece of business, gimmick, or style: A contrived, often repeated routine, gesture, or mannerism used by a performer, especially a comedian, to elicit a specific reaction or to define their persona. 2. A gimmick, trick, or ploy: A devious or clever scheme, often used to deceive or to achieve an advantage. 3. A prank or piece of clowning: A bit of humorous or foolish behavior intended to amuse. 4. A small piece or amount; a bit: (Informal, often hyphenated) A little portion of something.
Examples of Usage
- As a performer's routine:
- The comedian's main shtick involves impersonating a confused tourist.
- She dropped her old shtick and developed a more sophisticated act.
- As a gimmick or trick:
- His whole apology was just a shtick to get back in her good graces.
- Don't fall for that sales shtick about a "one-time offer."
- As a piece or bit (informal):
- He's a shtick crazy, but in a harmless way.
- She played a shtick Beethoven on the piano.
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a slightly negative or cynical connotation, implying the routine is contrived, overused, or not entirely genuine.
- It can refer to a person's defining, sometimes tiresome, characteristic in everyday life, not just performance.
- His whole "I'm too busy for details" shtick is getting old at the office.
Variants and Related Words
- Shtik: An alternate spelling.
- Shtick-y (adj., informal): Resembling or characteristic of a shtick; overly gimmicky.
- His presentation felt a bit shtick-y and insincere.
Synonyms
- Gimmick: A trick or device intended to attract attention.
- Routine: A sequence of actions regularly followed, especially in performance.
- Schtick: Another common variant spelling.
- Bit: A short, rehearsed performance or a small amount.
- Ploy: A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To do one's shtick: To perform one's characteristic routine or act.
- At every party, he does his shtick about his travels.
- No shtick / Without the shtick: Honestly or directly, without any gimmicks or pretense.
- Just give me the facts, no shtick.
- I prefer musicians who perform without the shtick.
Noun
- (Yiddish) a devious trick; a bit of cheating
- how did you ever fall for a shtik like that?
- (Yiddish) a prank or piece of clowning
- his shtik made us laugh
- (Yiddish) a contrived and often used bit of business that a performer uses to steal attention
- play it straight with no shtik
- (Yiddish) a little; a piece
- give him a shtik cake
- he's a shtik crazy
- he played a shtik Beethoven