musical chairs

musical chairs
1. Also called going to Jerusalem. a game in which players march to music around two rows of chairs placed back to back, there being one chair less than the number of players, the object being to find a seat when the music stops abruptly. The player failing to do so is removed from the game, together with one chair, at each interval.
2. Informal. a situation or series of events in which jobs, decisions, prospects, etc., are changed with confusing rapidity.
[1875-80]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • musical chairs — n [U] 1.) a children s game in which all the players must sit down on a chair when the music stops, but there is always one chair less than the number of people playing 2.) a situation in which people change jobs for no good reason or with no… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • musical chairs — noun uncount 1. ) a children s game in which players walk around a row of chairs and quickly sit down when the music stops. There is one less chair than there are people, and the person who does not get a chair leaves the game. This continues… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • musical chairs — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) a party game in which players compete for a decreasing number of chairs when the accompanying music is stopped. 2) a situation in which people frequently exchange jobs or positions …   English terms dictionary

  • musical chairs — n. a game in which the players march to music around empty chairs (always one fewer than the number of players) and rush to sit down each time the music stops: the player with no seat is eliminated in each round …   English World dictionary

  • Musical chairs — Trip to Jerusalem redirects here. For the public house in Nottingham, see Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem. For other uses, see Musical chairs (disambiguation). Musical chairs A game of musical chairs being played at a party. Players Variable …   Wikipedia

  • musical chairs — 1) N UNCOUNT Musical chairs is a game that children play at parties. They run round a row of chairs while music plays and try to sit down on one when the music stops. 2) N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you describe the situation within a particular… …   English dictionary

  • musical chairs — a game in which each player must find a chair when the music stops (there are more players than chairs), play musical chairs    At my birthday party can we play a game of musical chairs? Yes, dear …   English idioms

  • musical chairs — noun 1. a child s game in which players march to music around a group of chairs that contains one chair less than the number of players; when the music abruptly stops the players scramble to sit and the player who does not find a chair is… …   Useful english dictionary

  • musical chairs — n. to play musical chairs * * * [ˌmjuːzɪk(ə)l tʃeəz] to play musical chairs …   Combinatory dictionary

  • musical chairs — noun plural but singular in construction Date: 1877 a game in which players march to music around a row of chairs numbering one less than the players and scramble for seats when the music stops; also a situation or series of events suggesting the …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • musical chairs — {n. phr.} (Originally the name of a children s game.) The transfer of a number of officers in an organization into different jobs, especially each other s jobs. * /The boss regularly played musical chairs with department heads to keep them fresh… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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