Heckle
verb
To shout insults or annoying comments at a performer or public speaker to disturb their performance.
The comedian was heckled by an audience member who didn't find his jokes funny.
Often appears as...
- heckle a speaker
- heckle a comedian
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
verb
To question someone intensively, especially to make them feel uncomfortable or reveal a truth.
The politician was heckled during the interview about his false promises.
Often appears as...
- heckle a politician
- heckle at a press conference
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
verb
To separate the fibres of flax or hemp.
After harvesting, the flax is dried and then heckled before spinning it into linen.
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To shout insults or annoying comments at a performer or public speaker to disturb their performance.
The comedian was heckled by an audience member who didn't find his jokes funny.
Often appears as...
- heckle a speaker
- heckle a comedian
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
verb
To question someone intensively, especially to make them feel uncomfortable or reveal a truth.
The politician was heckled during the interview about his false promises.
Often appears as...
- heckle a politician
- heckle at a press conference
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
verb
To separate the fibres of flax or hemp.
After harvesting, the flax is dried and then heckled before spinning it into linen.
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'heckle' implies strong disapproval or dissatisfaction with the performer or speaker.
The rowdy group began to heckle the singer, expressing their discontent.
Pro Tip 2/3Disruptive Act
'Heckle' implies interruption that negatively affects the atmosphere or flow of the event.
The play was going smoothly until someone in the back decided to heckle the actors.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Heckle is mostly used in informal settings, such as comedy shows or debates, and less in formal ones.
The town hall meeting took a turn when locals began to heckle the councilor.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'heckle' implies strong disapproval or dissatisfaction with the performer or speaker.
The rowdy group began to heckle the singer, expressing their discontent.
Pro Tip 2/3Disruptive Act
'Heckle' implies interruption that negatively affects the atmosphere or flow of the event.
The play was going smoothly until someone in the back decided to heckle the actors.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Heckle is mostly used in informal settings, such as comedy shows or debates, and less in formal ones.
The town hall meeting took a turn when locals began to heckle the councilor.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'heckle' implies strong disapproval or dissatisfaction with the performer or speaker.
The rowdy group began to heckle the singer, expressing their discontent.
Pro Tip 2/3Disruptive Act
'Heckle' implies interruption that negatively affects the atmosphere or flow of the event.
The play was going smoothly until someone in the back decided to heckle the actors.
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
Heckle is mostly used in informal settings, such as comedy shows or debates, and less in formal ones.
The town hall meeting took a turn when locals began to heckle the councilor.
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Video examples
What's it like to be a...
It's not so much about reinventing humans, it's more about figuring out how we extend ourselves, right? And we end up using things in ways that are sort of surprising. So these guys can't play pool because the robots don't have arms, but they can heckle the guys who are playing pool and that can be an important thing for team bonding, which is kind of neat.
Video examples
Your body language...
also and the judges are trained to give no nonverbal feedback so they look like this I imagine this is the person interviewing you so for five minutes nothing and this is worse than being heckled people hate this it's it's what
Video examples
What's it like to be a...
It's not so much about reinventing humans, it's more about figuring out how we extend ourselves, right? And we end up using things in ways that are sort of surprising. So these guys can't play pool because the robots don't have arms, but they can heckle the guys who are playing pool and that can be an important thing for team bonding, which is kind of neat.
Video examples
Your body language...
also and the judges are trained to give no nonverbal feedback so they look like this I imagine this is the person interviewing you so for five minutes nothing and this is worse than being heckled people hate this it's it's what
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Hari Kondabolu
American Comedian
Heckles always vary. I mean, some people are just drunk, and it's nonsense, or, you know, some people just want to just repeat something I've said or add their own two cents about an opinion, but because of the nature of what I do and who I am, like, I also get the racist stuff, which is hard.
Quote examples
Billy Connolly
Scottish Comedian
I loathe hecklers. I haven't got a good syllable to say. When you come out of the club circuit and into the concert hall, they should be gone. There's an element of manners that should tell you that the ticket is dear and it's a different venue.
Quote examples
Rachel Parris
English Comedian
I don't really get heckled! I think it's because I might burst into song at any moment and even rude people have a weird respect for not interrupting singing!
Quote examples
Mark Lanegan
American Musician
I would only tell a story if I was being mercilessly heckled. That's the only time I would talk to the audience.
Quote examples
Chael Sonnen
American Athlete
When I'm a fan, I show up to boo. I don't show up to cheer; I show up to heckle.
Quote examples
Joy Behar
American Comedian
When people heckle me, I have the microphone. And the press has the microphone.
Quote examples
John Oliver
British Comedian
There are two kinds of hecklers: the destructive and constructive hecklers.
Quote examples
Jo Brand
British Comedian
It's very difficult to learn not to take nasty heckles personally.
Quote examples
John Bishop
British Comedian
By doing the comedy you don't get heckled by your own wife.
Quote examples
Holly Hunter
American Actress
I heckled somebody at the U.S. Open once.
Quote examples
Hari Kondabolu
American Comedian
Heckles always vary. I mean, some people are just drunk, and it's nonsense, or, you know, some people just want to just repeat something I've said or add their own two cents about an opinion, but because of the nature of what I do and who I am, like, I also get the racist stuff, which is hard.
Quote examples
Billy Connolly
Scottish Comedian
I loathe hecklers. I haven't got a good syllable to say. When you come out of the club circuit and into the concert hall, they should be gone. There's an element of manners that should tell you that the ticket is dear and it's a different venue.
Quote examples
Rachel Parris
English Comedian
I don't really get heckled! I think it's because I might burst into song at any moment and even rude people have a weird respect for not interrupting singing!
Quote examples
Mark Lanegan
American Musician
I would only tell a story if I was being mercilessly heckled. That's the only time I would talk to the audience.
Quote examples
Chael Sonnen
American Athlete
When I'm a fan, I show up to boo. I don't show up to cheer; I show up to heckle.
Quote examples
Joy Behar
American Comedian
When people heckle me, I have the microphone. And the press has the microphone.
Quote examples
John Oliver
British Comedian
There are two kinds of hecklers: the destructive and constructive hecklers.
Quote examples
Jo Brand
British Comedian
It's very difficult to learn not to take nasty heckles personally.
Quote examples
John Bishop
British Comedian
By doing the comedy you don't get heckled by your own wife.
Quote examples
Holly Hunter
American Actress
I heckled somebody at the U.S. Open once.
Example 1 of 10
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