straight man
In comedy, the 'straight man' is crucial for setting up jokes and enhancing the humor of their more eccentric partners.
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Definition
C1Comedy
(idiomatic)A performer who plays a serious or rational character to highlight the humor of a more comedic partner.
Example
- In the comedy duo, the straight man always kept a serious face, making the comedian's antics even funnier.
- The straight man in the sketch made the punchlines more impactful by playing the role with deadpan delivery.
A2General
(literal)A man who is heterosexual.
Example
- He identified as a straight man and was comfortable discussing his orientation.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "straight man":
play it straightstraight arrowsuper straightstraight lacestraight batstraight goodswhite manupright mantrans manstraight as an arrow