rubber-chicken circuit

American  

[ruhb-er-chik-uhn, -in] / ˈrʌb ərˈtʃɪk ən, -ɪn /

noun

Informal.

1. a monotonous round of dinners, often featuring chicken, that a lecturer or political candidate is obliged to attend.

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Etymology

Origin of rubber-chicken circuit

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

When you spend your life as a football coach, you inevitably speak on the rubber-chicken circuit.

From Washington Post • Mar. 8, 2018

At a Variety event in Palm Springs on Sunday, he pulled back the veil on the whole rubber-chicken circuit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2015

Kasparov circled the luncheon room like a politician on the rubber-chicken circuit, skipping his own lunch and stopping at the round tables to greet individual delegates.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2014

Beats fish fries and working the rubber-chicken circuit.

From Washington Post

Trim, tan and in splendid spirits, he is easily the most active non-candidate around, averaging 18 days of travel a month and earning about $500,000 a year on the rubber-chicken circuit.

From Time Magazine Archive