butt of ridicule

USAGE SUMMARY

'butt of ridicule' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest that someone or something has become the target of derision and mockery. For example: "The politician's blunder quickly made him the butt of ridicule in the media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Currently, Johnson, a butt of ridicule three years ago, is the best bowler in the world, whatever the ICC list says.

The Guardian - Sport

That retrograde step made Kansas the butt of ridicule and led an aroused electorate to oust several conservative board members last year, opening the way for this week's approval of new standards prepared by scientists and educators.

The New York Times

Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, when white rule returned to the South, not a single civil-rights act had survived the Senate.Power lay with the committee chairmen, leaving the Senate majority leader so powerless as to be a butt of ridicule.

The Economist

His years there were probably unhappy because, although he was proud of his middle-class origin, he was a constant butt of ridicule because of his ungainly figure, morose manner, and biting tongue; the bitterness of his book reflects the inferiority of his social position.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Our current disregard of non-economic motivations is even more surprising when we learn that less than a century ago, the Enlightenment's "narrow rational programme" for individual happiness had already become "the butt of ridicule and contempt" – as the Austrian modernist writer Robert Musil observed in 1922.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The explanation quickly became the butt of national ridicule, prompting television crews and opposition politicians to visit the office to request tastings of the pricey purified water.

The New York Times

The famous halo is the butt of endless ridicule in Iran, most recently in a song addressed to Ahmadinejad in the style of the medieval poet Molavi, which has become a sort of anthem of the Tehran June: "You are violence without sight/ A halo without the light".

The Guardian - Books

The similarity to Osama, America's universal symbol of evil and mass death and destruction has been just too juicy to pass up as the butt of jokes, ridicule, and sincere or calculated confusion.

Huffington Post

Even apple slices are now a target of ridicule.

The New Yorker

Sitting with the man who'd been the butt of so much ridicule, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him — and slightly guilty.

The New Yorker

But GOP House ultra-conservatives will still likely fight to the barricades on the tax hikes and deep spending cuts in non-military programs, even at the risk of making the party the butt of even more public ridicule and its taking a further hit on its political credibility.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "butt of ridicule" when you want to emphasize that someone or something is being openly and widely mocked. It implies a degree of humiliation and public shaming.

Common error

While similar, "target of ridicule" simply implies being the recipient of mockery. "Butt of ridicule" carries a stronger connotation of widespread and often humiliating derision. Use "target of ridicule" when the mockery is less intense or widespread.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "butt of ridicule" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the person or thing that is the object of mockery or scorn. Ludwig's examples illustrate how the phrase is used to describe individuals, groups, or even ideas that have become subjects of widespread derision.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "butt of ridicule" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone or something that is the target of widespread mockery and derision. Although Ludwig identifies the phrase as correct and usable, its frequency is relatively rare. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase carries a neutral register, reporting on the existence of ridicule rather than expressing it directly. If you need a refresher on the context or want to explore other ways to say it, Ludwig can help!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

target of mockery

Highlights the targeting aspect of ridicule, suggesting intentionality.

byword for ridicule

Suggests that the subject is widely known and synonymous with ridicule.

object of derision

Focuses on the act of deriding, emphasizing contemptuous mockery.

subject of scorn

Emphasizes the feeling of contempt and disdain directed at the target.

laughingstock

A more concise term referring to someone or something subjected to ridicule.

prey to mockery

Emphasizes vulnerability and victimization through ridicule.

standing joke

Indicates a long-term or repeated source of amusement and ridicule.

victim of jest

Similar to "prey to mockery" but framed within the context of joking.

figure of fun

Implies a lighter, less malicious form of ridicule, more akin to teasing.

source of amusement

A more neutral way to say someone is being ridiculed; lacks the negative connotation.

FAQs

What does it mean to be the "butt of ridicule"?

To be the "butt of ridicule" means to be the target of jokes and mockery, often in a public and humiliating way.

What can I say instead of "butt of ridicule"?

You can use alternatives like "laughingstock", "object of derision", or "target of mockery" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "butt of ridicule" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "butt of ridicule" might be considered slightly informal for academic or highly professional contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative like "object of derision" or "target of mockery".

How does "butt of ridicule" differ from "target of ridicule"?

"Butt of ridicule" implies more intense, widespread, and humiliating mockery compared to simply being a "target of ridicule". The former suggests a higher degree of public shaming.