panto

Everyday

1. (UK, informal) A panto is a funny family musical play, usually shown around Christmas and New Year, based on a fairy tale such as Cinderella or Aladdin, with jokes, songs, a man dressed as a «dame», and lots of audience shouting. tree →
2. (UK) Panto can describe anything silly and over-the-top, as in «a bit of a panto». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life in the UK and Ireland, going to the panto is a Christmas tradition; the audience shouts «He's behind you!» and «Oh no it isn't!» — «Oh yes it is!». In drama lessons, pupils learn panto characters: the dame, the principal boy, the villain who gets booed. In other countries «pantomime» often means mime, acting without words. Common phrases: «go to the panto», «panto season», «panto dame», «panto villain», «He's behind you!».

Examples

• We go to the panto every Christmas. tree →
• The audience shouted «He's behind you!» at the panto. tree →
• Our teacher played the dame in the school panto. tree →
• This year's panto is Jack and the Beanstalk. tree →
• Everyone booed the panto villain. tree →
• Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is! — that's panto for you. tree →
• The meeting turned into a bit of a panto. tree →

Note

Plural: pantos. Short for «pantomime». Mostly British, Irish, and also known in Australia and Canada. In the USA, «pantomime» usually means mime (acting with no words), so Americans may not know British panto.