send up
verb

- to make fun of, especially by doing an imitation or parody of. (chiefly British)

- to make someone or something seem stupid by copying him, her, or it in a funny way. (UK informal)

- to expose the flaws or foibles of through parody, burlesque, caricature, lampoon, or other forms of satire.

Dictionary Com, Cambridge Dictionary, Collins Dictionary

—
PHRASE ORIGIN

The verb phrase "send up" meaning "to ridicule or parody" has a fascinating etymology rooted in British English.

The expression emerged in British English around the 1950s-1960s, though its precise origins are somewhat murky. The phrase is primarily British, with American English speakers more commonly using "send up" to mean physically propelling something upward or imprisoning someone.

The most widely accepted theory connects "send up" to British theatrical and comedy traditions. The phrase may derive from the practice of "sending up" (performing) a parody or satirical sketch to an audience—literally presenting it "up" to them on stage. The Cambridge Footlights and other British comedy troupes popularized this usage in the mid-20th century.

By the 1970s-1980s, "send-up" (hyphenated as a noun) became firmly established in British English to mean "a parody" or "a satirical imitation." The verb form "to send someone/something up" means to mock or satirize, typically in a good-natured rather than malicious way.

—
THE POWER OF PARODY

1.  Ape: to crudely imitate someone’s actions or style in a foolish, exaggerated way, often without deeper intent beyond copying.
2.  Caricature: to exaggerate distinctive features of a person or thing (usually visually) to create a comical or grotesque likeness.
3.  Lampoon: to publicly ridicule a specific target through sharp, often vicious written or spoken attack, typically in a humorous vein.
4.  Mimic: to imitate someone’s voice, gestures, or mannerisms accurately, usually for entertainment rather than criticism.
5.  Mock: to express contempt by imitating or treating someone/something with scorn, often to belittle or deride.
6.  Parody: to imitate a work, genre, or style closely while introducing absurdity to critique or amuse.
7.  Ridicule: to subject someone/something to contemptuous laughter, highlighting flaws to diminish respect.
8.  Satirize: to use irony, wit, and exaggeration to expose and criticize vice, folly, or societal issues, often with moral purpose.
9.  Send up: (chiefly British) to parody or mock something in a light-hearted, exaggerated way, poking fun without malice.

These different forms of imitation and critique expose arrogance, hypocrisy, and ego. Indispensable tools for intellectual freedom and cultural progress.

Helga & Paul Smith

—

SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“When comedians SEND UP powerful people they are using humour to challenge arrogance or ego.”

—
P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D