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gallows humour

British  

noun

  1. sinister and ironic humour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

And if you're willing to permit a bit of gallows humour at a time like this, as the goalkeeper, he might have ample opportunity to shine.

From BBC Aug. 7, 2025

"Sri Lankans specialise in gallows humour... laughter is clearly our coping mechanism," he said.

From BBC Oct. 17, 2022

"In Britain it ties in with the tradition of panto, that kind of gallows humour," he says.

From BBC Dec. 8, 2021

Sam is my jaded Scottish side; even though he’s English he has a very Glaswegian, gallows humour.

From The Guardian Jun. 27, 2020

But it feels like gallows humour and the songs sound mournful.

From The Guardian Mar. 15, 2020

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