clown

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. someone who acts in a silly way or makes a lot of jokes to get attention.

n. a person who habitually behaves in a foolish or playful way, often to amuse others.

“Stop being such a clown and help me finish this serious project.”

“Every office has a resident clown who uses humour to deflect from the stress of quarterly deadlines.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary

n. a person who is rude, clumsy, or has no manners.

n. a person of coarse manners or awkward behaviour; historically used for a rustic or ill-bred individual.

“The old book described the villain as a rude clown who knew nothing of city life.”

“In the Shakespearean sense, the character is less a circus performer and more a country clown whose lack of social grace provides the comedy.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

v. to behave in a silly or playful way to make people laugh.

v. to behave in a comical or foolish manner, often as a form of play or distraction.

“The students were clowning around in the back of the classroom instead of studying.”

“The athletes were seen clowning around during the warm-up, showing little of the focus expected for a championship final.”