spoof
/spuːf
/informal
noun
1A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect: a Robin Hood spoof...
- In fact, the film pretty neatly sums up why the genre died in the first place - too many films with bad improv comics starring in dismal spoofs of things that have pretty much been spoofed to death.
- The creators of cult the TV hit make their bid for big screen super-stardom with a comic spoof of George Romero's zombie movies, with surprisingly hilarious results.
- All the laborious editing serves slight purpose, and presents the wearying phenomenon of a spoof of a schlock genre that is virtually a parody of itself.
Synonyms
parody, pastiche, burlesque, take-off, skit, imitation
informal send-up
British vulgar slang piss-take
rare pasquinade, pasticcio
2A trick played on someone as a joke: word got out that the whole thing had been a spoof...
- Another claim on the Web page is that you can use it to ‘send your buddies games and hilarious news spoofs.’
Synonyms
hoax, trick, joke, game
informal leg-pull, con
North American informal dido
archaic quiz
verb [with object]
1Imitate (something) while exaggerating its characteristic features for comic effect: it is a movie that spoofs other movies...
- If you remember the '80s teen classics and want a movie that spoofs them well, look elsewhere.
- It's obvious the writers have fun with spoofing the superhero genre.
- Various character traits and catchphrases are spoofed, and to get the humor in these moments, a viewer will need to know where they came from.
Synonyms
parody, take off, burlesque, pastiche, make fun of
informal send up
British vulgar slang take the piss out of
2Hoax or trick (someone): they proceeded to spoof Western intelligence with false information...
- I wonder, having spoofed us for two years, are they trying to send us gullible mugs the same signal?
2.1Interfere with (radio or radar signals) so as to make them useless: that meant that the Americans might not be able to jam or spoof his systems
Derivatives
spoofer
- This government are a bunch of shysters and spoofers.
- That places radio and television broadcasters and cable TV companies at risk of being fooled by spoofers with a little technical know-how and some off-the-shelf electronic components.
- Then, if you want, you can sue spoofers for trademark infringement.
spoofery
- It vandalises a gutsy satirical classic, in this case with a mixture of misjudged condescension, smirking spoofery and culpable failure of nerve.
- It has itself become a self-conscious genre inviting spoofery.
- The faux thriller spoofery goes silly-side-up and Steve's boisterous young assistant isn't given enough to do, but this is a small price to pay for the genius that is Brooks.
Origin
Late 19th century: coined by Arthur Roberts (1852–1933), English comedian.
An example of a word made up by a specific person, the English comedian Arthur Roberts (1852–1933). He invented a card game involving bluff, which he called Spoof. The word subsequently came to be applied to a hoax or swindle, and to a parody.