grease paint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialized, theatrical
Quick answer
What does “grease paint” mean?
A thick, oily cosmetic used by actors and performers to apply makeup, especially for theatrical or clown performances.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, oily cosmetic used by actors and performers to apply makeup, especially for theatrical or clown performances.
Theatrical makeup in general; the world of acting or performance (metonymically).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is equally understood in both theatrical communities.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same connotations of theatre, performance, and sometimes the artificiality or transformative nature of acting.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but standard within the domains of theatre, film, and circus arts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “grease paint” in a Sentence
apply [grease paint] to [face]remove [grease paint] from [skin][actor] wears [grease paint]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grease paint” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The actor will be grease-painted for his role as a pantomime dame.
- She spent an hour being grease-painted in the makeup chair.
American English
- The clown was grease-painted with a huge red smile.
- They had to grease-paint the entire chorus before the show.
adverb
British English
- This is not a standard adverbial form for 'grease paint'.
American English
- This is not a standard adverbial form for 'grease paint'.
adjective
British English
- The grease-paint smell backstage was overwhelming.
- He had a grease-paint smile that looked eerie up close.
American English
- She wiped off the grease-paint residue with a cold cream.
- His grease-paint kit was filled with vibrant colours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in the context of theatrical supply companies.
Academic
Used in theatre history, performance studies, and film studies contexts.
Everyday
Very rare. Understood but not commonly used outside of discussions about theatre or performance.
Technical
Standard term in professional theatre, film, television, and circus for traditional oil-based makeup.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grease paint”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grease paint”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grease paint”
- Using 'greasepaint' as a verb (e.g., 'I will greasepaint my face'). It is primarily a noun. The verb is 'to apply grease paint'.
- Confusing it with modern water-based or alcohol-based theatrical makeup.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily in specific contexts like traditional theatre, clowning, and some special effects makeup. Modern stage makeup is often water-based or silicone-based.
Grease paint is specifically a thick, oil-based makeup designed for the stage. It is much heavier, more pigmented, and longer-lasting under hot lights than everyday cosmetics.
While the noun form is standard, the hyphenated verb 'to grease-paint' (meaning to apply grease paint to) is accepted, especially in theatrical writing, though 'apply grease paint to' is more common.
Both 'grease paint' (open compound) and 'greasepaint' (closed compound) are found in dictionaries. 'Grease paint' is slightly more common in formal writing.
A thick, oily cosmetic used by actors and performers to apply makeup, especially for theatrical or clown performances.
Grease paint is usually specialized, theatrical in register.
Grease paint: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡriːs ˌpeɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡriːs ˌpeɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “smell the grease paint (to desire to perform on stage)”
- “behind the grease paint (referring to the real person beneath the theatrical persona)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clown's face: the GREASE keeps the colourful PAINT from cracking as they smile.
Conceptual Metaphor
THEATRE IS A MASK (The grease paint is the physical mask that creates a character).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'grease paint' MOST likely to be used?