play to the gallery

play to the gallery
play to the gallery & 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.

* * *
{v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • play to the gallery — To play for the applause of, or seek popularity with, the least cultured and least sophisticated section of one s audience • • • Main Entry: ↑gallery * * * play to the gallery phrase to say what you think people want to hear in order to gain… …   Useful english dictionary

  • play to the gallery — {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • play to the gallery — ► play to the gallery aim to attract popular attention. Main Entry: ↑gallery …   English terms dictionary

  • play\ to\ the\ gallery — v. phr. To try to get the approval of the audience. Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery. The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case. Compare: show off …   Словарь американских идиом

  • play to the gallery —    A person who plays to the gallery tries to gain popularity by behaving in a way that will appeal to the majority.     It s no secret that he got elected by playing to the gallery …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • play to the gallery — to say what you think people want to hear in order to gain popularity Management accused the unions of playing to the gallery by attacking the pay talks …   English dictionary

  • 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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • play to the gallery — aim to appeal to popular taste. → gallery …   English new terms dictionary

  • play to the gallery — try to impress the general public, try to impress the masses …   English contemporary dictionary

  • play to the gallery — verb To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval …   Wiktionary

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