ridicule about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ridicule about" is not commonly used in written English. It may be used in contexts discussing the subject of ridicule, but "ridicule of" is more standard. Example: "There was much ridicule about his unusual fashion choices." Alternative expressions include "mockery of" and "derision regarding."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

("All of these things are part of making the city safer. There's been a lot of ridicule about it, which is unfortunate").

The New Yorker

But for the most part, there's ridicule about Ossei's affections for one of a lower class: "The bad blood of that slave will not tarnish our noble blood".

The New York Times

As a fan, you will feel actual joy or actual pain — this is precisely what non-sports-fans usually ridicule about being a sports fan — in relation to events that really don't affect your life at all.

The New York Times - Magazine

In response to Debra Galant's philosophical quandary about breaking the delicate subject of New Jersey residency to one's progeny (Jersey, Oct. 15), there is a cornucopia of subjects to appropriately ridicule about New Jersey, but it's still a jackpot of a place to live.

The New York Times

The Sun newspaper picked up on the ever increasing email campaigns to bring back the Arrows, and mobilised no less than 165,000 people to sign a petition "to allow the Red Arrows to fly at the 2012 Olympics" - serving only to spread ridicule about political correctness.

The Guardian

"There is going to be ridicule about — he has done this or that — and I just hope people know it is not about that.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Trump later claimed he was referring to Fiorina's "persona", adding that he was constantly ridiculed about his hair and no one complained about that.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was here, Mr Goulding said, that he had been in dispute on a number of occasions with fellow taxi drivers and ridiculed about his "personal hygiene and the cleanliness of his taxi".

Independent

Yet, with Johnson out of the picture this season, Patrick Ewing last season -- and Starks and Charles Oakley in 1999 -- everything you knew, embraced and ridiculed about the franchise the last five years is almost gone.

The New York Times - Sports

And you know, Howard Dean was kind of ridiculed about the 50-state strategy, but I think it's going to pay off.

Huffington Post

When asked if building dysfunctional robots was meant to ridicule fears about an impending robot takeover, Giertz responded, "You mean like the antidote to Skynet?" (referring to the villain of "Terminator" movie fame).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "ridicule about" is sometimes used, consider using "ridicule of" for a more standard and widely accepted phrasing. For example, instead of "There was ridicule about his ideas", try "There was ridicule of his ideas".

Common error

A common error is using "ridicule about" when "ridicule of" or another preposition is more appropriate. Ensure the preposition you choose accurately reflects the relationship between the ridicule and its object. Using "ridicule of" is generally a safer choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ridicule about" functions as a verb-preposition combination, where "ridicule" acts as a verb implying derision, and "about" introduces the subject being ridiculed. Ludwig AI indicates that while used, this construction is less standard than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ridicule about" is a less common but understandable phrase used to express mockery or derision. Ludwig AI suggests that while not grammatically incorrect, it is advisable to use alternatives like "ridicule of" for greater clarity and adherence to standard English. This analysis indicates the phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts, with a generally neutral to informal tone. When writing, consider the context and desired level of formality to determine whether "ridicule about" or a stronger alternative is most suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mock about

Replaces "ridicule" with a synonym, maintaining the preposition "about".

make fun of

Uses a more common idiomatic expression to convey the same meaning.

poke fun at

Similar to "make fun of", but implies a gentler form of ridicule.

deride concerning

Substitutes both the verb and the preposition with near-synonyms.

scorn regarding

Employs a more formal tone while retaining a similar meaning.

satirize regarding

Implies a more sophisticated and intellectual form of ridicule.

lampoon in relation to

Uses a less common verb and prepositional phrase for a more literary effect.

taunt regarding

Suggests a more direct and potentially hurtful form of ridicule.

jeer at concerning

Similar to "taunt", but implies a more vocal and public form of ridicule.

gibe about

Replaces "ridicule" with a less common but similar verb, maintaining the preposition "about".

FAQs

Is "ridicule about" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "ridicule about" is less common than alternatives like "ridicule of". Its acceptability depends on context and personal preference.

What's a better alternative to "ridicule about"?

A stronger alternative is "ridicule of". Other options include "mock about" or rephrasing the sentence entirely to use "make fun of".

How can I use "ridicule of" instead of "ridicule about" in a sentence?

Simply replace "about" with "of". For example, instead of "There was much ridicule about his unusual fashion choices", use "There was much "ridicule of" his unusual fashion choices".

What's the difference between "ridicule about" and "mock about"?

"Mock about" is a near synonym of "ridicule about", they both have very similar meaning and structure. Also, "mock about" is preferred than "ridicule about".