Cartoon : Sheer gaudiness

Political cartoon by Randy Bish of the The Tribune Review in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and published on 28 April 2011.

Sheer is a word used to emphasize the amount or degree of something.  Take a look at some examples:

Their excellent results were a result of their sheer hard work.

Being able to see his family after spending a year on military duty in Iraq was sheer joy.

Gaudiness is the state of being overdone and without good taste. The adjective is gaudy. To give you an idea, here’s a picture from today’s royal wedding!

Now this is a gaudy hat worn by Princess Beatrice of York, elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York!

And let’s not forget the queen of gaudy clothing, Lady Gaga, who is always gaudily dressed! It’s sheer gaudiness!