Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“You know, as a comedian your body has to be – I need to think of a better term than ‘up for grabs’ – but you kind of use whatever you have to get the laugh. And if you’re worrying about how you look… Vanity is the death of comedy.”
—Writer and Comedian Amy Poehler, talking about making fun of oneself for laughs. (The Guardian)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
available
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
Comedy takes a lot of bravery. Sometimes, there are things we don’t want to make fun of, even if they could be funny. Maybe, someone is overweight and doesn’t want people to laugh about it. Still, there are some comedians who will do whatever it takes to get a laugh. For them, everything, their looks, personality, and habits, is up for grabs.
In Sisters, writer and comedian Amy Poehler and costar Tina Fey do everything they can to get a laugh. In one scene, they go into a fancy clothing store and try on very small dresses. Their stomachs are poking out and they do a high five with their bellies. Amy Poehler said they did this because you can’t be both vain and a good comedian. One might say that for a “true comedian,” everything has to be up for grabs.
Can you make fun of yourself? What’s up for grabs for you?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“I can’t finish my ice cream so if you want it, it’s up for grabs.”
“When you’re young, it feels like the entire world is up for grabs.”
“There is plenty of food at the party that is up for grabs.”