Silly refers to behaving or thinking in a foolish, childish, or nonsensical manner. It describes actions, ideas, or attitudes that lack seriousness, practicality, or rationality. Silly behavior often elicits amusement or exasperation due to its lack of maturity or sensibility.
In Indonesian, the equivalent term is “bodoh” or “tolol.”
Sample Sentences:
- Mark’s silly antics during the team meeting disrupted the serious discussion.
- Jane’s silly fear of spiders led her to scream and jump on a chair.
- The children burst into laughter at the clown’s silly jokes.
- His silly excuse for being late was that he lost track of time playing video games.
- The movie’s silly plot relied on exaggerated stereotypes for humor.
- The politician’s silly attempts at relatability came across as insincere to the public.
- It’s silly to believe in superstitions without any scientific basis.
- The team’s silly bet on the outcome of the game added an element of fun to their rivalry.
- The cat’s silly behavior, chasing its own tail, entertained the family.
- Despite their age, the friends enjoyed a silly game of hide-and-seek in the park.
Synonyms:
- Foolish
- Childish
- Nonsensical
- Absurd
- Ridiculous
Antonyms:
- Intelligent
- Mature
- Sensible
- Serious
Related Words:
- Frivolous
- Trivial
- Lighthearted
- Playful
Phrasal Verbs:
- Act out (engage in silly behavior)
- Laugh off (dismiss silly remarks with humor)
- Goof around (engage in silly and playful activities)
Idioms:
- Make a fool of oneself: To behave in a silly or embarrassing manner.
- Cry over spilled milk: To worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed, often used to discourage silly regrets.
- A few fries short of a Happy Meal: A humorous way of saying someone is not very intelligent or is acting in a silly manner.
Conclusion: Silly underscores the need to strike a balance between playfulness and maturity in our actions and thoughts. While it’s important to maintain a lighthearted attitude, we should also exercise sound judgment and avoid behaviors that might appear foolish or immature. Similar to terms like “foolish” and “childish,” silliness prompts us to approach life with a sense of joy and humor, but also to consider the appropriateness of our actions and decisions in different contexts.
