When an audience boos then suddenly begins to clap, because of the "Applause" sign seen on many TV show sets.
On March 11th, 2008 on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien show, O'Brien had a sketch where he mailed famous celebrities survey questions. During this sketch, the audience horrorplaused seven times.
by UrbanAmit March 11, 2008
as defined by conan o'brien... a reaction in which the audience responds initially in disgust and shock to a joke and then gradually comes around and laughs and applauds.
by ryanjo March 11, 2008