Definition

Noun: A ventriloquist's dummy is a puppet, typically made of wood, that is operated by a ventriloquist. The ventriloquist projects their voice so that it appears to be coming from the dummy, creating the illusion that the dummy is speaking independently.

Usage

This term specifically refers to the puppet used in the performance art of ventriloquism. It is the central prop that allows the performer to create a dialogue or comedic routine.

Examples

• The ventriloquist's dummy sat on his knee, its wide eyes staring blankly at the audience.
• She practiced for hours to make the movements of her ventriloquist's dummy look natural and lifelike.
• In the old comedy routine, the ventriloquist's dummy would often insult its own operator.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person who appears to be controlled by or merely parrots the ideas of another.
  • The senator was accused of being nothing more than a ventriloquist's dummy for the corporate lobbyists.

Variants and Related Words

• Dummy: A more general term for a model of a human figure, which can also refer to a stupid person or a pacifier for a baby.
• Puppet: A broader term for any figure moved by hand, strings, or rods, often in a theatrical performance.
• Ventriloquist: The performer who operates the dummy and projects their voice.

Synonyms

• Figure
• Mannequin (in the specific context of a performer's prop)

Notes

This is a compound noun where "ventriloquist's" acts as a possessive adjective specifying the type of dummy. The core word being defined and exemplified is the entire phrase "ventriloquist's dummy."

Noun

1. a wooden dummy into which a ventriloquist projects the voice