ridiculous

from the sublime to the ridiculous

Fig. from something fine and uplifting to something ridiculous or mundane. After Mr. Jones had introduced my wife to his wife, he jokingly turned to introduce me and said, "From the sublime to the ridiculous." After the opera singer finished, the master of ceremonies introduced the comic juggler saying, "From the sublime to the ridiculous...."

See also: sublime

From the sublime to the ridiculous is only a step.

Prov. Something grand can easily become very funny. Bob, I don't think you should include a bowl of breakfast cereal in your still-life painting. From the sublime to the ridiculous is only a step. The production of Macbeth went from the sublime to the ridiculous when Lady Macbeth came onstage in an old army uniform.

See also: step, sublime

make someone look ridiculous

to make someone look foolish (not funny). This hat makes me look ridiculous. Please make me look good. Don't make me look ridiculous!

See also: look, make

---

cut an [interesting/ridiculous/unusual etc.] figure

if someone cuts an interesting, ridiculous, unusual etc. figure, they seem interesting, ridiculous, unusual etc. My Russian uncle cut an unusual figure among the very British audience.

See also: cut, figure

from the sublime to the ridiculous

from something that is very good or very serious to something that is very bad or silly The evening went from the sublime to the ridiculous, an hour-long piano recital followed by two hours of karaoke.

See also: sublime

---

from the ridiculous to the sublime See: from the sublime to the ridiculous

See also: sublime

from the sublime to the ridiculous

from something that is very good to something that is very bad or silly The performances at the festival ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Usage notes: also used in the form from the ridiculous to the sublime

See also: sublime