meaning

[hela]

Dear teachers,

1) What's the meaning of the following sentence, please ?

"The critics laughed the play off the stage."

Why do we say "OFF THE STAGE ?"

2) Which English expression could be spoken about that way ?

“It is just a moderately informal expression. I don't use it often, but there may be the odd occasion when I do. I can't think of any specific rule.” Thank you for your help.

Hela

[Marylin]

Why do we say "OFF THE STAGE ?"

They ridiculed the play because it was really bad. They gave the play poor ratings.

[hela]

Thanks, Marylin!

[AlainK]

Couldn't that mean that the critics jeered the actors so much that they left the stage before the end of the play?...

[MrPedantic]

Couldn't that mean that the critics jeered the actors so much that they left the stage before the end of the play?...

Hello Alain

1. If an audience laughs a play off the stage, it means that the actors leave the stage before the end of the play.

2. If the critics laugh a play off the stage, it means that their reviews ridicule the play to such an extent that no one wants to see it any more.

Obviously, if the audience consists mostly of critics, #1 might apply. But usually there are too few critics in an audience to have such a drastic effect.

(You could say that #1 is literal, and #2 is metaphorical.)

MrP

[hela]

Thank you very much for your clear explanation; MrP!

All the best,
Hela

[AlainK]

Very clear indeed, thank you very much MrP.

AK

[Casiopea]

encore! encore!