clown on
C1 slang inseparable transitive
In simple words
To make fun of someone in front of other people and embarrass them.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
slang
To mock or publicly humiliate a specific person, often online or in front of an audience (internet slang).
"The whole internet was clowning on the celebrity after that embarrassing interview clip went viral."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Modern internet and social media slang, popular among younger English speakers, particularly in American English. Used when someone's mistakes or embarrassing moments are shared or ridiculed publicly online. Distinct from the older sense of clowning around.
Commonly used with
social media internet Twitter video post comments
Forms
Base
clown on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
clowns on
he/she/it
Past simple
clowned on
yesterday
Past participle
clowned on
have + pp
-ing form
clowning on
continuous
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