25 June 2014

spoof

[spoof]

noun

1. a mocking imitation of someone or something, usually light and good-humored; lampoon or parody: The show was a spoof of college life.
2. a hoax; prank.

verb (used with object)
3. to mock (something or someone) lightly and good-humoredly; kid.
4. to fool by a hoax; play a trick on, especially one intended to deceive.

verb (used without object)
5. to scoff at something lightly and good-humoredly; kid: The campus paper was always spoofing about the regulations.

Origin:
1885–90; after a game invented and named by Arthur Roberts (1852–1933), British comedian

Today’s aphorism

Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

– George Orwell

On this day

25 June 1903 – birthday of George Orwell (born Eric Arthur Blair), English author of works such as ‘Nineteen-Eighty Four‘, ‘Animal Farm‘, and ‘Homage to Catalonia‘.

25 June 1947 – The Diary of a Young Girl (better known as The Diary of Anne Frank) is first published.

25 June 1978 – the Rainbow Flag, symbol of gay pride, is flown for the first time in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.