Words / C2

b-uh-FOON/bəˈfuːn/

A buffoon is a person who behaves in a ridiculous, clownish way (often disapproving): play the buffoon, a complete buffoon. A clown (already in the dictionary) is everyday and often professional; facetious (already in the dictionary) is joking at the wrong time, of a remark. A raconteur (already in the dictionary) is a skilled storyteller — the contrast. Senate clowning does not close a flame-risk minute.

Meaning

A person who behaves in a ridiculous, clownish way (often disapproving).

Examples

• “Playing the buffoon at Senate does not close a flame-risk minute.”
• “A clown is everyday (already in A1). Facetious is ill-timed joking (already in C2). A raconteur tells stories well (already in C2) — the contrast. Wit after a dated finding can be exact. Wit instead of a numbered line is a hole. Write the minute; then the turn.”

Good to know

A ridiculous clownish person. Everyday: clown / fool (already in this dictionary). Close: facetious (already in C2). Contrast: raconteur (a skilled storyteller — already in C2). A turn is not a close-out.

Near in meaning

clown, fool, jester, idiot

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