soap opera

soap opera

n.

1. A drama, typically performed as a serial on daytime television or radio, characterized by stock characters and situations, sentimentality, and melodrama.

2. A series of experiences characterized by dramatic displays of emotion.

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[From its originally having been sponsored by soap companies.]

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soap opera

n

(Communication Arts / Broadcasting) a serialized drama, usually dealing with domestic themes and characterized by sentimentality, broadcast on radio or television

[so called because manufacturers of soap were typical sponsors]

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soap opera - Goes back (1939) to the early days of radio suspense serials, which were mainly sponsored by soap-makers; the "opera" part is an echo of the earlier "horse opera"—a Western (1927).

See also related terms for opera.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

soap opera - a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products) serial, series - a serialized set of programs; "a comedy series"; "the Masterworks concert series"

Translations

soap opera n → telenovela, soap opera f inv

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soap opera → مسلسل درامي mýdlová opera sæbeopera Seifenoper σαπουνόπερα culebrón, telenovela saippuaooppera feuilleton télévisé sapunica soap opera ソープオペラ 연속극 melodramatische serie såpeopera opera mydlana novela мыльная опера tvålopera ละครน้ำเน่า televizyon dizisi chương trình truyền hình nhiều tập 肥皂剧