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Schtik (Noun)

(Yiddish) a contrived and often used bit of business that a performer uses to steal attention; "play it straight with no shtik".

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

The comedian's signature shtik was wearing oversized shoes that squeaked with every step.
After a few years of performing the same tired shtik, the actor began to feel like he was losing his edge.
Her whole persona was a carefully crafted shtik, but somehow it still worked to get attention.
He'd built his career on a few tried-and-true shtiks, but they were starting to wear thin with audiences.
Play it straight with no shtik, the director instructed, I want a genuine emotional response from the actors.

(Yiddish) a devious trick; a bit of cheating; "how did you ever fall for a shtik like that?".

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

(Yiddish) a little; a piece; "give him a shtik cake"; "he's a shtik crazy"; "he played a shtik Beethoven".

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure.

(Yiddish) a prank or piece of clowning; "his shtik made us laugh".

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

The comedian's shtik about airline food was hilarious and had the whole audience in stitches.
Her shtik about trying to squeeze into skinny jeans was a crowd-pleaser at the comedy club.
The kids loved the clown's shtik with the squirt gun and rubber chicken.
The actor's shtik as a bumbling waiter was the highlight of the play.
The politician's shtik about being a "regular guy" fell flat with the skeptical voters.