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Glite Dictionary
non-U humor

non-U humor

9.8
A style of comedy that people see as middle-class or working-class and less formal
  • noun
  • /nɒn juː ˈhjuːmə/
  • Archaic
translation icon : humor no aristocrático
  • Many British sitcoms rely on non-U humor to connect with a broad audience.

Examples

  • The comedian's non-U humor drew laughter from everyday working families.

  • His jokes had a distinctive non-U humor that set him apart from more traditional performers.

  • I enjoy non-U humor because it's relatable.

  • His jokes often reflect a sense of non-U humor.

  • British television often showcases non-U humor, appealing to the tastes of the general public.

  • Many comedians today use non-U humor to resonate with middle-class audiences.

  • Her style of non-U humor made her very popular among working-class viewers.

Synonyms

low comedy
vsnon-U humor
  • NSFW
1 6.7

Funny acting in plays or films that uses physical actions and rude jokes

is based on social class and general lack of refinement rather than technique

How Sophisticated

high comedy
  • Literature
1 8.4
non-U humor
  • Archaic
9.8
low comedy
  • NSFW
1 6.7

Surface Forms

non-U humor singular
non-U humors plural

Morphology

non-U + humor

The phrase is directly compositional: 'non-U' means not upper-class (non-elite) and modifies 'humor', so the overall meaning is simply humor associated with non-elite/middle- or working-class styles. Although 'non-U' is a culture-specific British label, the negation prefix and adjective+noun pattern make the sense predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings.

Etymology

Non-U humor comes from a British idea in the 1950s that called some words and tastes U and others non-U, meaning 'not upper-class'. Because non-U described ordinary, everyday people and speech, non-U humor now means jokes that are plain, direct, and aimed at middle- or working-class audiences.