sight gag

English

Noun

sightgag(pluralsight gags)

1. (film,television,stage performance)Avisuallypresented action or device which causes ahumorousresponse without requiring any accompanyingcommentaryor other speech.
   • 1947October 31, Gene Handsaker, “Hollywood Sights and Sounds: Bob Hope”,inPrescott Evening Courier,retrieved1 October 2012,page 2:

     Dragged suddenly before a formal dinner honoring the women's dean of Toledo University, he wowed his audience with asight gag—he kissed the guest of honor.

   • 1969June 28, “Cinema: Happy End”,inTime:

     In the good old ricky-tick days when movie directors wore riding breeches, a favorite cinematicsight gagwas to reverse the film, which suddenly sent the actors waddling backwards through doors that closed behind them, putting their hats on instead of taking them off, and shoveling food out of their mouths instead of in.

   • 2005March 10,Virginia Heffernan,“TV Review:The Hollow Men—Four Well-Groomed Britons, Trying Hard to Be Naughty Boys”,inNew York Times,retrieved1 October 2012:

     In the openingsight gag,a guy in leisure wear shows up at his office only to find everyone in S&M clothes.

   • 2008October, Paul Scott, “Was the Prozac revolution all in our heads?”, inMen's Health,volume23,number 8,→ISSN,page146:

     As he uttered these words, a PowerPoint image of Dr. Möller's face morphed into that of a smiling Pope Benedict. Thesight gaghad the psychiatrists roaring.

References

• “sight gag”,inOneLook Dictionary Search.