silly season

silly season
a) A period of time, as during a holiday season or a political campaign, in which the behavior of an individual or group tends to become uncharacteristically frivolous, mirthful, or eccentric.

Yes, Virginia, there is a presidential election in 1984—and it has begun: A former Vice President goes ice fishing and poses with a puny perch dangling from his line. A 68-year-old Senator dons athletic shorts and runs a 60-yd. dash in a San Francisco track meet. . . . Such hijinks can mean only one thing: the quadrennial silly season has started again.

b) A period, usually during the summertime, when news media tend to place increased emphasis on reporting light-hearted, offbeat, or bizarre stories.

Over time, the silly season in Catholic liturgy that peaked in the 1970s—"clown" masses (with the priest vested as Bozo or somesuch), free-for-all prayers that ignored the prescribed rite, dreadful pop music, inept "liturgical dance," a general lack of decorum—began to recede.


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  • silly season — silly .season n the silly season BrE informal a period in the summer when newspapers print stories that are not very serious because there is not much political news …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • silly season — The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Silly season — (zu dt. Sauregurkenzeit) bezeichnet im Sport den Zeitraum in dem aus Mangel an Neuigkeiten durch fehlende Ergebnisse Spekulationen um mögliche Mannschaftswechsel oder andere personelle Veränderungen aufkommen. Der Begriff findet hauptsächlich in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Silly season — The silly season is the period lasting for a few months (starting in mid to late summer) in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia typified by the emergence of frivolous news stories in the media. This… …   Wikipedia

  • silly season — noun a time usually late summer characterized by exaggerated news stories about frivolous matters for want of real news • Hypernyms: ↑time period, ↑period of time, ↑period * * * I. noun : a period (as late summer) when newspapers must resort to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • silly season — N PROPER: the N The silly season is the time around August when the newspapers are full of unimportant or silly news stories because there is not much political news to report. [BRIT] …   English dictionary

  • silly season — /ˈsɪli sizən/ (say silee seezuhn) noun 1. the time of the year, especially the end of year break, when regular and serious activities have ceased and newspapers, broadcasts, etc., contain more frivolous material than usual: *This is supposed to… …  

  • silly season — a time of year, usually in midsummer or during a holiday period, characterized by exaggerated news stories, frivolous entertainments, outlandish publicity stunts, etc.: The new movie reminds us that the silly season is here. [1870 75] * * * …   Universalium

  • silly season —    The silly season is midsummer when Parliament is closed and nothing much is happening that is newsworthy, which reduces the press to reporting trivial and stupid stories.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • silly season — noun the silly season BrE informal a period in the summer when newspapers print stories that are not very serious because there is not much political news …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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