patter song

noun

1. a comic song depending for its humorous effect on rapid enunciation of the words, occurring most commonly in comic opera and operetta.

patter song

noun

1. music a humorous song or aria, the text of which consists of rapid strings of words

Word History and Origins

Origin of patter song¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Mr. Brady pulled off Don Profondo’s patter song “Medaglie incomparabili,” a tongue-twisting list of precious objects, as an auctioneer’s spiel.

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The joke-packed patter song, about three infants who are all suspects in the murder of their mother, was a source of narrative tension, since Martin’s character was extremely nervous about performing it in full.

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It’s a huge moment in the show and a huge patter song.

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Oliver brings in Matthew Broderick, playing himself with exaggerated smarm, who effortlessly breezes through the patter song.

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He was completely game to sing this absurd, tongue-twisting, joke-packed patter song about three infants who are all suspects in the murder of their mother — but he hesitated on the line: “Should a baby get fried for matricide?”

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