pantomime

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia) A funny family play, usually at Christmas, based on a fairy tale, with songs, jokes, a man dressed as a woman (the Dame), and the audience shouting back. tree →
2. Telling a story with movements and faces but no words; mime. tree →
3. (informal) A silly, over-the-top situation: «The meeting was a pantomime.» tree →

In the lessons

A big part of children's winter life in the UK and Ireland: going to «the panto» to see Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk or Dick Whittington. The audience shouts «He's behind you!» and «Oh no it isn't!» «Oh yes it is!» In drama lessons, pantomime also means acting without words.

Examples

• We went to the pantomime at Christmas and shouted «He's behind you!» tree →
• The Dame in the panto wore a huge pink wig. tree →
• This year's pantomime is Cinderella. tree →
• In drama we did a pantomime of making a sandwich, without speaking. tree →
• «Oh no it isn't!» «Oh yes it is!» shouted the audience. tree →
• Dad called the traffic jam a complete pantomime. tree →
• My school puts on a panto every December. tree →

Note

Countable. Informal UK short form: panto. In the USA, «pantomime» usually just means mime; the Christmas panto is a British tradition. Pantomime villains are booed, heroes cheered.