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Corny

Corny illustration
"Corny" is when something is so cheesy and silly, it's kinda embarrassing!

EXAMPLES

  • That joke about the chicken crossing the road was so corny.

  • When Dad tries to dance, it's always awkwardly corny but cute.

  • He tried to be cool, but it turned out super corny, like old-timey movie lines.

SITUATION

A couple celebrates their anniversary, and one person gifts the other a giant teddy bear.

University illustration

REACTIONS:

  • That's so corny, but kinda cute, I guess.

  • A giant teddy bear? How cheesy , but sweet.

  • Really? A huge teddy bear? That's pretty corny.

EXPLANATION

"Corny" describes something that's old-fashioned, unoriginal, or overly sentimental in a cheesy way. It's like a joke that's not funny or a line in a movie that's too predictable. When something is "corny," it can feel insincere or lacking in genuine emotion. It's often used to describe things that are too simplistic or clichéd , making them seem silly or trite.