Meaning of Kabuki | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A form of Japanese theatre in which elaborately costumed male performers use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies.
   capitalized, often, uncountable
2. Alternative letter-case form of kabuki.
   alt-of, uncountable
3. A stylized, pretentious, and often hollow performance; (especially) political posturing.
   US, broadly, figuratively, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Despite its self-consciously assumed irreverence toward traditional practices, “Hokaibo” incorporates all the essential elements of classic Kabuki: the all-male company of actors, exaggerated makeup, the stomping dances, the arresting, cross-eyed poses at moments of high drama that are recognized and applauded.”

“Ichikawa, whose real name⟳ is Takahiko Kinoshi, made his kabuki debut in 1980 and went on to become⟳ one of the country’s most renowned performers.”

“The whole "weapons of mass destruction" concern⟳ was phony from the start⟳, and the drama about inspections was just kabuki: going through the motions.”

“Health care reform⟳ recently brought Kabuki to mind⟳ for both Rush⟳ Limbaugh—“what you have⟳ here is ‘Kabuki theater’”—and New York Times columnist Frank Rich: “[I]f I were to place⟳ an incautious bet⟳ on which political event will prove⟳ the most significant of February 2010, I wouldn’t choose⟳ the kabuki health care summit.””

“The boy tells her she will find⟳ iPhone chargers if she takes five steps back. Here the performance shifts from mere stiltedness to a kind of hateful Kabuki, an affected defiance of how people naturally act: She walks backward, counting her steps, then turns and slaps her forehead.”

CEFR level