musical chairs

noun

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.

musical chairs

noun

1. a party game in which players walk around chairs while music is played, there being one fewer chair than players. Whenever the music stops, the player who fails to find a chair is eliminated
2. any situation involving a number of people in a series of interrelated changes

Word History and Origins

Origin of musical chairs¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

A combination of redrawn district boundaries and some political musical chairs has energized the race, setting it up to be one of the most-watched legislative contests in November.

From Los Angeles Times

The musical chairs look set to continue, which might sound pleasing to the ears of Celtic’s front three.

From BBC

But pressure is building for a citywide approach as more districts impose parking restrictions, forcing homeless people to play a nightly game of musical chairs to find a place to sleep.

From Los Angeles Times

So, Tsunoda is looking at places such as Williams, Haas and Alpine, and it seems he has a decent chance of landing one of those seats in this summer’s driver musical chairs.

From BBC

She’s playing musical chairs again, before sitting back in her beloved Chieftain, which, she says, is destined for her new Hollywood home.

From Los Angeles Times