dog and pony show
An elaborately organized event used mainly for promotion or to drive sales. The car dealership had quite the dog and pony show this weekend in an attempt to sell their old inventory. To help draw attention to the company's new line of products, the manager took their dog and pony show on the road for a nationwide promotion. A: "Ugh, I hate having to be involved in this corporate dog and pony show every year." B: "Well, you're stuck with it as long as it makes the company money."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
dog and pony show
Fig. a display, demonstration, or exhibition of something-such as something one is selling. (As in a circus act where trained dogs leap onto and off of trained ponies.) Gary went into his standard dog and pony show, trying to sell us on an upgrade to our software. Don't you get tired of running through the same old dog and pony show at every trade show?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
dog-and-pony show
An elaborate presentation to gain approval for a product or policy. For example, The administration loved putting on a dog-and-pony show for every minor change of policy . This term alludes to a traveling variety show. [1950s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a dog and pony show
AMERICANIf you call an event such as a presentation a dog and pony show, you mean that it is intended to impress people, often to persuade them to buy something. I'm bombarding him and the others with charts, graphs, facts, and figures. The boss responds by dozing off during most of our dog and pony show. Ann and I sometimes do a dog and pony show at public libraries in the US. Note: This expression refers to circus acts involving dogs and horses.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
dog-and-pony show
an elaborate display or performance designed to attract people's attention. North American informal 1998 Spectator Happy as I always am to help the Bank of England, I have…supplied the script for its euro dog and pony show.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
a ˌdog and ˈpony show
(American English, informal) a complicated presentation, event or display that is designed to attract people’s attention but which has little real content: They put on a dog and pony show in the hope of attracting new investors. ♢ The protest was just a dog and pony show designed to bring in the media.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
dog and pony show
n. a demonstration; a speech, skit, or other presentation that is presented often. Willy was there with his dog and pony show about water safety.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.