gallows'\ humor

gallows'\ humor
n. phr.
Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc.

When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to start the week, Eh?"


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • Gallows humor — (Galgenhumor in German), derives from gallows which is a platform with a noose used to execute people by hanging. Gallows humor is the type of humor that still manages to be funny in the face of, and in response to, a perfectly hopeless situation …   Wikipedia

  • gallows humor — gallows ,humor noun uncount humor about unpleasant or serious things such as death or disease …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • gallows humor — ☆ gallows humor n. amused cynicism by one facing disaster; morbid or cynical humor …   English World dictionary

  • gallows humor — noun : humor that makes fun of very serious or terrifying situations * * * noun [noncount] : humor that relates to very serious or frightening things (such as death and illness) * * * ˌgallows ˈhumour f7 [gallows humour] (especially US ˌgallows… …   Useful english dictionary

  • gallows humor — noun Comedy that still manages to be funny in the face of, and in response to, a horrible, deathly, tragic, dramatic, perfectly hopeless situation. Author Neumann defiantly admits why he wrote this historical romantic farce: Because I wanted to… …   Wiktionary

  • gallows humor — humor that treats serious, frightening, or painful subject matter in a light or satirical way. [1900 05] * * * …   Universalium

  • gallows humor — morbid humor, black humor …   English contemporary dictionary

  • gallows humor — noun Date: 1901 humor that makes fun of a life threatening, disastrous, or terrifying situation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gallows humor — gal′lows hu mor n. humor that treats serious, frightening, or painful subject matter in a light or satirical way • Etymology: 1900–05 …   From formal English to slang

  • gallows' humor — {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, Nice way to start the week, eh? / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • gallows' humor — {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, Nice way to start the week, eh? / …   Dictionary of American idioms

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