crowd (redirected from crowding)

crowd someone or something in(to) something and crowd someone or something in

to push or squeeze someone or something into a place or a container. They tried to crowd a dozen people into that tiny room. Then they crowded in one more. They all tried to crowd themselves into the same room.

crowd someone or something out of something and crowd someone or something out

to push or force someone, something, or an animal out of something. Don't crowd your brother out of line! Don't crowd out my favorite plants with all your rosebushes!

See also: out

crowd someone or something together

to push or squeeze people or things together. See if you can crowd them together and get more in the row. I am afraid that I crowded the plants together too much.

See also: together

crowd something with someone or something

to pack too many people or things into something. The ushers crowded the room with visitors. Aunt Victoria had crowded the room with the busy trappings of a bygone era.

crowd around someone or something

to flock or swarm around someone or something. The children crowded around the department store Santa, eager for their chance at talking to him. Everyone crowded around the radio to listen.

See also: around

crowd in (on someone or something)

to press or crush around someone or something. Please don't crowd in on the guest of honor. Can you keep them back from me? I don't like it when they crowd in. The people crowded in on us and frightened us a little bit. Don't crowd in on the display case. It is an antique.

crowd in(to) some place and crowd in

to push or squeeze into some place. Please don't try to crowd into this place. Too many people are trying to crowd in.

See also: place, some

crowd through (something)

[for a number of people] to push through something. The little group of revelers crowded through the door. They all tried to crowd through.

See also: through

crowd together

to pack tightly together. The tenants crowded together in the lobby. All the kittens crowded together to keep warm.

See also: together

far from the madding crowd

in a quiet, restful place. (From Thomas Gray's poem, "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.") Julia sat daydreaming at her desk, wishing she were far from the madding crowd. Jane: Where shall we go this weekend? Alan: Anywhere, as long as it's far from the madding crowd.

See also: far

follow the crowd

to do what everyone else is doing. I am an independent thinker. I could never just follow the crowd. When in doubt, I follow the crowd. At least I don't stand out like a fool.

See also: follow

play to the gallery and play to the crowd

to perform in a manner that will get the strong approval of the audience; to perform in a manner that will get the approval of the lower elements in the audience. John is a competent actor, but he has a tendency to play to the crowd. When he made the rude remark, he was just playing to the gallery.

See also: play

Two is company, (but) three's a crowd. and Two's company(, three's a crowd).

Prov. A way of asking a third person to leave because you want to be alone with someone. (Often implies that you want to be alone with the person because you are romantically interested in him or her.) When Lucy followed Mark and Nora into the drawing room, Nora turned to her and said, "Two's company, but three's a crowd." Bill: Can I go to lunch with you and Tom? Jane: Two's company, three's a crowd, Bill.

See also: two

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a crowd-puller  (British & Australian)

something or someone that many people are keen to go and see This year's final will be a major crowd-puller -- Manchester United and Liverpool are two of the country's most popular teams and are also fierce rivals.

play to the gallery

to spend time doing or saying things that will make people admire or support you, instead of dealing with more important matters Politicians these days are more interested in playing to the gallery than exercising real influence on world events.

See also: play

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stand out from the crowd

to be very obvious or unusual We try to stand out from the crowd by producing movies and TV programs that no one else would produce.

See also: out, stand