Three Stooges
10
4.9
- proper noun
- /θriː ˈstuːdʒɪz/
- Offensive
:
Los Tres Chiflados
- Paul, they look like the Three Stooges.
- watch The Three Stooges
- Three Stooges tape
Examples
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* And now, from Hollywood California, The Three Stooges are on the air!
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The Three Stooges.
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You like The Three Stooges?
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In this version, we're telling the story of... Snow White and the Three Stooges.
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But I'll give you this much: they are way better than the Three Stooges.
Blog text (25) -
I wondered if the Three Stooges were back or not.
Blog text (32) -
Have you ever seen The Three Stooges, Lyd?
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Which one of the Three Stooges was Peter's favorite?
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Ladies and gentlemen, The Three Stooges Scrapbook!
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Have you ever seen The Three Stooges perform their hilarious slapstick routines?
Synonyms
32
7.9
A person others make fun of or who does what they are told
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'three' and 'stooge' transparently yield the idea of a group of three people who are foolish or made the butt of jokes, so a B1 learner could infer a basic figurative sense. However, the expression also alludes to a specific famous comedy troupe and carries cultural/slapstick connotations that are not predictable from the words alone, so full understanding requires prior exposure.
Etymology
Three Stooges comes from the older word stooge, which meant a comic helper who played a silly part. The real group were three men who acted clumsy and foolish on stage and in films, so today the name is used for 'three people acting foolish together'.