Definition

1. Noun:
   • A laughingstock / a figure of fun: A person, thing, or situation that is ridiculed or mocked by others, causing amusement at their expense.
   • A joke / a farce: An event or action that is considered absurdly ridiculous or foolish.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ta sợ trở thành trò cười của mọi người. (He is afraid of becoming everyone's laughingstock.)
  • Vụ việc đó giờ đã thành một trò cười. (That incident has now become a joke.)
  • Đừng ăn mặc như vậy, bạn sẽ bị làm trò cười cho thiên hạ đấy. (Don't dress like that, or you'll be made a figure of fun for everyone.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm trò cười cho...": To be/become a laughingstock for... / to be made a fool of in front of...
  • Hành động của anh ấy chỉ làm trò cười cho đối thủ. (His actions only made him a laughingstock for his rivals.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trò hề (n): A clown, a jester; often used similarly to mean someone who acts foolishly for amusement.
  • Anh ta cư xử như một trò hề. (He behaves like a clown.)
• Trò đùa (n): A joke, a prank (generally lighter, less focused on ridicule).
  • Đó chỉ là một trò đùa vô hại. (It was just a harmless joke.)

Synonyms

• Laughingstock: A person subjected to ridicule.
• Figure of fun: A person who is considered amusingly ridiculous.
• Joke: Something said or done to provoke laughter, especially an absurd or ridiculous thing.
• Farce: An event or situation that is absurd or ridiculous.

Related Idioms

• Thành trò cười cho thiên hạ: To become the laughingstock of everyone/to be the talk of the town (in a mocking way).
  • Sau scandal, công ty đó thành trò cười cho thiên hạ. (After the scandal, that company became the laughingstock of everyone.)