Shtick
A
shtick is a comic theme or gimmick. "Shtick" is derived from the Yiddish word
shtik, meaning "piece"; the closely related German word
Stück has the same meaning. The English word "piece" itself is also sometimes used in a similar context. Another variant is "bits of business" or just "bits"; comic mannerisms such as Laurel and Hardy's fiddling with their ties, or one of them looking into the camera shaking his head while the other one would ramble on. A
shtick can also refer to an adopted persona, usually for comedy performances, that is maintained consistently across the performer's career. In this usage, the recurring personalities adopted by Laurel and Hardy through all of their many comedy films would qualify as their shtick. A comedian might maintain several different shticks of this sort, particularly if they appear in a variety show that encourages them to develop multiple characters, such as
Saturday Night Live. In common usage, the word
shtick has also come to mean any talent, style, habit, or other eccentricity for which a person is particularly well-known, even if not intended for comedic purposes.