clown Definition
- 1a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated makeup
- 2a foolish or incompetent person
Using clown: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "clown" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The clown made the children laugh with his silly antics.
Example
He's such a clown that he can't even tie his own shoes.
Example
She dressed up as a clown for Halloween.
Example
The political candidate was seen as a clown by many voters.
clown Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for clown
- professional
- serious person
Idioms Using clown
Example
He was the clown prince of the office, always making everyone laugh with his jokes and pranks.
Example
She applied the clown white to her face before putting on the rest of her clown makeup.
clown suit
a brightly colored and patterned outfit worn by clowns
Example
He put on his clown suit and wig before heading out to perform at the circus.
Phrases with clown
a phrase used to describe a situation where things have gone wrong and someone is needed to fix it
Example
The project was a disaster, so they had to send in the clowns to try to salvage it.
Example
The kids were clowning around in the park, chasing each other and laughing.
Example
They managed to fit 20 people into the tiny clown car for the circus act.
Origins of clown
from Old Norse 'klunni', meaning 'a clumsy person'
Summary: clown in Brief
A 'clown' [klaʊn] is a comic entertainer, often found in circuses, who wears exaggerated makeup and costumes. The term also refers to a foolish or incompetent person. The phrase 'send in the clowns' describes a situation where someone is needed to fix something that has gone wrong, while 'clown around' means to behave in a silly or playful way. Idioms include 'clown prince,' denoting a humorous or entertaining person, and 'clown white,' referring to the white makeup traditionally worn by clowns.
