com·ic-op·er·a

(kŏm′ĭk-ŏp′ər-ə, -ŏp′rə)

adj.

Not to be taken seriously: comic-opera politics; a comic-opera style of uniform.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

com′ic op′era

opera with spoken dialogue, comical scenes or characters, and a happy ending.

[1905–10]

com′ic-op′era

adj.

farcically inept or inane.

[1905–10]

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Tenor Lawrence Wiliford, featured on one track, continues to show his versatility--from comic-opera clown to serious recitalist.

Messiaen: Chants De Terre Et De Ciel

But GOP Senate primary victor Katherine Harris, whose campaign against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson had long ago devolved into a comic-opera fiasco, never received one--and not because it had slipped into her spam filter.

No respect

At the same time, the Pathet Lao, a communist-controlled insurgency supported by the North Vietnamese, was attempting to overthrow the country's comic-opera oligarchy.

Avoiding the Laos Trap

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.