mime

Everyday

1. Mime is acting a story using only movements, faces and gestures, without words. tree →
2. A mime is a performer who does this, often with a white painted face. tree →
3. To mime means to show something with actions instead of words. tree →
4. To mime a song means to move your lips as if singing while a recording plays. tree →

In the lessons

In drama lessons, games such as charades use mime. In stories, a character may mime a message when they cannot speak. In music videos and shows, «miming» to a recording is sometimes called cheating. Phrases: «in mime», «mime artist», «mime a word», «mime along to».

Examples

• We acted out the story in mime. tree →
• The mime pretended to be trapped in a glass box. tree →
• Mime brushing your teeth. tree →
• In charades you have to mime the film title. tree →
• The pop star was caught miming at the concert. tree →
• She mimed "Call me" through the window. tree →
• Our drama teacher showed us how to mime pulling a rope. tree →

Note

Verb: mimed, miming. «Mime» (the art) is uncountable; «a mime» (a performer or a short act) is countable. Rhymes with «time». Do not confuse with «mimic» (copy someone's voice or actions, often to make fun).