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to lampshade

to lampshade

3 9.2
To point out something unlikely or awkward in a story
  • verb
  • /ˈlæmpˌʃeɪd/
  • Jargon
translation icon : mencionar de forma autoconsciente
  • Just wanted to say that I quoted (linked here) the paragraph about how hilariously it was lampshaded that Sam and Dean always talk about secret stuff wide in the open.

Examples

  • If so, is Bendis lampshading his own Poochie?

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  • The author cleverly lampshades the ridiculousness of the situation, making the audience laugh.

  • Whenever he hits a girl, a video game voice says "Bad!" to lampshade it.

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  • Done without lampshading in Excel Saga.

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  • The fact Tempus doesn't really fit the role is even lampshaded.

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  • But it diminishes women, men, and storytelling in the entire medium of video games when it's not either addressed or at least lampshaded.

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  • Family Guy lampshades this in an early episode where Lois learns martial arts and an all-family brawl breaks out.

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  • This was even lampshaded by Carol's portrayer, Julianna Margulies, upon accepting her award, who noted, "A year ago at this time, I was dead."

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  • He even lampshades it at one point, telling a girl that he is assaulting that he really doesn't give a crap whether she's a little girl or not.

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  • In the movie, the character lampshades the unrealistic plot twist by saying, "That wouldn't happen in real life!"

Synonyms

to bewray
vsto lampshade
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a secret known often without meaning to

deliberately point out awkward or unrealistic details in a story

Antonyms

1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

How Overt

to state
1.6
to lampshade
  • Jargon
3 9.2
to point out
1.8
to hint
136 2.0
to allude
88 6.5

Surface Forms

lampshade infinitive
lampshaded past
lampshaded past participle
lampshading present participle
lampshades third person singular

Etymology

Lampshade as a verb comes from the picture of a lampshade making a bright thing obvious. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine an author 'putting a lampshade' on a strange part of a story to make people notice it. So to lampshade something is to openly point out an awkward or unrealistic detail so the audience accepts it.