buffoon
To behave in a silly, ridiculous, or foolish way, often to amuse others or to distract from a serious situation. In an academic context, it refers to the performance of absurdity or the intentional playing of the fool.
Examples
3 of 5He continued to buffoon for the crowd despite the serious nature of the event.
He kept acting like a fool for the audience even though the event was serious.
The witness began to buffoon during cross-examination, which significantly undermined his credibility.
The witness started acting silly during questioning, which really hurt his believability.
Stop buffooning in the hallway and get back to your work!
Quit playing around in the corridor and return to your tasks.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'buffoon' as someone who 'buffs' up their ego by acting like a silly 'baboon'.
Quick Quiz
The comedian began to ___ on stage to distract the audience from the technical difficulties.
Correct!
The correct answer is: buffoon
Examples
He continued to buffoon for the crowd despite the serious nature of the event.
everydayHe kept acting like a fool for the audience even though the event was serious.
The witness began to buffoon during cross-examination, which significantly undermined his credibility.
formalThe witness started acting silly during questioning, which really hurt his believability.
Stop buffooning in the hallway and get back to your work!
informalQuit playing around in the corridor and return to your tasks.
The protagonist is often seen to buffoon in the third act to highlight the tragic irony of the play.
academicThe main character often acts foolishly in the third act to show the sad irony of the story.
The marketing director was warned not to buffoon during the quarterly investor call.
businessThe head of marketing was told not to behave unprofessionally during the meeting with investors.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
buffoon about
to spend time engaged in silly behavior
buffoon through something
to complete a task by acting silly rather than serious
to buffoon one's way
to navigate a situation by using humor or foolishness
Often Confused With
A baboon is a large primate, while a buffoon is a person who acts foolishly.
A balloon is an inflatable toy; buffoon refers to ridiculous behavior.
Usage Notes
While 'buffoon' is most commonly recognized as a noun, using it as a verb is a more literary or formal way to describe the act of behaving foolishly. It often carries a negative connotation of being unprofessional or annoying.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget that this word can be used as a verb and only use it as a noun. Additionally, do not confuse it with 'buff' (which means an enthusiast or someone physically fit).
Memory Tip
Think of a 'buffoon' as someone who 'buffs' up their ego by acting like a silly 'baboon'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Italian 'buffone' (jester), which comes from 'buffare', meaning to puff out the cheeks—a common gesture used by clowns to cause laughter.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The term has roots in European court culture where a buffoon (jester) was paid to act foolishly to entertain the nobility.
Quick Quiz
The comedian began to ___ on stage to distract the audience from the technical difficulties.
Correct!
The correct answer is: buffoon
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