IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishplay to the gallery
Meaning: To behave in a way meant to win popular approval.
Example: “The senator's speech was pure playing to the gallery.”
Origin: In 19th-century theaters the gallery held the cheapest seats and the least demanding audience, so actors who overacted for them were "playing to the gallery."
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: spel för galleriet Literally: Play for the gallery
French: Épater la galerie Literally: To astound the gallery
More English idioms
- a pie-crust promise A promise that is easily broken.
- drag someone's name through the mud To damage someone's reputation publicly.
- as old as the hills Extremely old.
- a low blow An unfair or cruel attack.
- it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye Rough play may seem harmless but can end in injury.
- a dab hand Someone very skilled at something.
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