melodrama
melodrama — noun
- melodramasingular
- melodramasplural
1. a theatrical work, film, or television programme that emphasises exaggerated emo
a theatrical work, film, or television programme that emphasises exaggerated emotions and thrilling plot developments, usually with a clear contrast between good and evil characters
Karim stayed up late to watch a Korean television melodrama about two long-lost sisters.
countable noun: a television melodrama
The play was a classic Victorian melodrama with a wicked villain and a daring rescue at the end.
collocation: classic Victorian melodrama
Many critics called the film a shallow melodrama, but audiences loved its emotional scenes.
Sade enjoys watching old film melodramas with dramatic music and exaggerated acting.
- soap opera
specifically a television or radio serial with ongoing emotional storylines, usually less action-oriented than melodrama
- tearjerker
informal; focuses on making the audience cry, whereas melodrama emphasises excitement and moral conflict
- farce
a comedy based on absurd situations and humour, opposed to melodrama's serious emotional tone
用法筆記
Can be used as a countable noun (a melodrama) or an uncountable noun referring to the genre as a whole (the history of melodrama).
2. behaviour or events that are much more dramatic, emotional, or sensational than
behaviour or events that are much more dramatic, emotional, or sensational than the situation really requires
Rodrigo lost his keys and fell to his knees crying out — pure melodrama.
uncountable: pure melodrama
Yael rolled her eyes at her brother's melodrama over a minor cold.
Imran turned the meeting into melodrama by accusing a colleague of betrayal over a simple mistake.
Andrei shouted at the waiter for bringing the wrong soup, and everyone in the restaurant stared at his melodrama.
- dramatics
more informal; often used to dismiss someone's behaviour as unnecessarily theatrical
- histrionics
more formal and strongly disapproving; suggests theatrical overacting rather than genuine emotion
- restraint
controlled, calm behaviour — the opposite of exaggerated emotional display
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and carries a disapproving tone. Often used in the phrase 'turn something into a melodrama' to criticise someone for overreacting.