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The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. "Prat," a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been used in reference to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn't long before we gave the word its extended sense of "blunder." Now, with "prat" rarely used as a synonym of "derriere" anymore, "pratfall" is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing bang on one's behind.
Examples of pratfall in a Sentence
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024
Fortunately, that moment was the one pratfall in a project that, a decade after completion, has held its own.
—Catherine Hong, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2024
Pratt turned himself into a human wrecking ball onscreen, massively exaggerating Dwyer's pratfalls and adding a chaotic element to the series that viewers loved.
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—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Pratfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pratfall. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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pratfall
noun
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