soap opera
Use Soap opera in a sentence
ər noun
a radio or television series depicting the interconnected lives of many characters often in a sentimental, melodramatic way.
Origin:
1935–40, Americanism; so called because soap manufacturers were among the original sponsors of such programs
1935–40, Americanism; so called because soap manufacturers were among the original sponsors of such programs
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To soap opera
Collins
World English Dictionary
| soap opera | |
| —n | |
| a serialized drama, usually dealing with domestic themes and characterized by sentimentality, broadcast on radio or television | |
| [C20: so called because manufacturers of soap were typical sponsors] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Soap opera
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
soap opera
1939 (sponsors were often soap manufacturers), from earlier horse opera "a Western" (1927); shortened form soap first attested 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
soap opera
-
A radio or television serial with stock characters in domestic dramas that are noted for being sentimental and melodramatic. For example, She just watches soap operas all day long. This term originated in the mid-1930s and was so called because the sponsors of the earliest such radio shows were often soap manufacturers.
-
Real-life situation resembling one that might occur in a soap opera, as in She just goes on and on about her various medical and family problems, one long soap opera. [1940s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Many families have drama and cats play an important role in keeping the soap opera kind of drama flowing.
At eight he would produce the gun when he wanted his sister to change the channel from a soap opera to a cartoon.
Diamond's overdetermined script tacks between soap opera and symposium, with intriguing morsels of each.
Well, it is getting a lot more soapy soap opera than the first season.
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