Hammy: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ญ
hammy
[ หhรฆmi ]
acting style
Hammy refers to a style of acting that is exaggerated, melodramatic, and often overly theatrical. This term is often used to describe performances that lack subtlety and come across as unrealistic or overly showy.
Synonyms
exaggerated, melodramatic, overacted, theatrical
Examples of usage
- His hammy performance in the play drew laughter from the audience.
- The movie was criticized for its hammy dialogue.
- She always plays her characters in a hammy way, stealing the spotlight.
- Despite the hammy acting, the film became a cult classic.
Translations
Translations of the word "hammy" in other languages:
๐ต๐น hammy
๐ฎ๐ณ เคนเฅเคฎเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช hammy
๐ฎ๐ฉ hammy
๐บ๐ฆ ั ะฐะผะผั
๐ต๐ฑ hammy
๐ฏ๐ต ใใใผ
๐ซ๐ท hammy
๐ช๐ธ hammy
๐น๐ท hammy
๐ฐ๐ท ํ๋ฏธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ูุงู ู
๐จ๐ฟ hammy
๐ธ๐ฐ hammy
๐จ๐ณ ๅ็ฑณ
๐ธ๐ฎ hammy
๐ฎ๐ธ hammy
๐ฐ๐ฟ ั ะฐะผะผะธ
๐ฌ๐ช แฐแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ hammy
๐ฒ๐ฝ hammy
Word origin
The term 'hammy' is derived from the word 'ham', which originally referred to an actor who overacts or plays a role in an exaggerated manner. The usage of 'ham' as a pejorative for a poor actor dates back to the late 19th century and was likely popularized by performers in vaudeville and other live theatrical performances, where some actors would resort to grand gestures and over-the-top line delivery to capture the audience's attention. Over time, 'ham' evolved to describe anyone whose style of performance is considered excessively dramatic or lacking in subtlety. The term has since become a standard part of theatrical and cinematic vocabulary.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #41,025, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.
- ...
- 41022 tattler
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- 41024 outmanoeuvre
- 41025 hammy
- 41026 pernickety
- 41027 swansdown
- 41028 jounce
- ...