It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine.

In social psychology, the pratfall effect is the tendency for a person's likability to change after making a mistake depending on perceived competence: highly competent individuals tend to become more …

PRATFALL meaning: 1. a fall in which a person lands on their bottom, especially for a humorous effect in a play…. Learn more.

Oct 13, 2025 · pratfall (third-person singular simple present pratfalls, present participle pratfalling, simple past pratfell, past participle pratfallen) To fall on to the buttocks.

PRATFALL meaning: 1 : a sudden fall in which you end up sitting on the ground; 2 : an embarrassing mistake or accident

Define pratfall. pratfall synonyms, pratfall pronunciation, pratfall translation, English dictionary definition of pratfall. n. 1. A fall on the buttocks. 2. A humiliating error, failure, or defeat: "His characters not …

A pratfall is a comical fall or mishap, often involving a person falling down in a clumsy manner. It is commonly used in comedic contexts, particularly in slapstick humor, to enhance the entertainment …

pratfall, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

A pratfall is a mistake that is particularly embarrassing, like going to a job interview with stains on your shirt. It can also be a silly goof done on purpose to make people laugh, like slipping on a banana peel.

US and Canadian slang a fall upon one's buttocks.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.