three-ring circus

or three-ringed circus

[ three-ring ]

noun

1. a circus having three adjacent rings in which performances take place simultaneously.
2. something spectacular, tumultuous, entertaining, or full of confused action:

   Our family reunions are always three-ring circuses.

three-ring circus

noun

1. a circus with three rings in which separate performances are carried on simultaneously
2. a situation of confusion, characterized by a bewildering variety of events or activities

Word History and Origins

Origin of three-ring circus¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

A situation of complete confusion, as in It was a three-ring circus, with the baby crying, the dog barking, both telephones ringing, and someone at the front door . This term alludes to a circus where three rings or arenas are featuring performances simultaneously. Perhaps invented by show business impresario P.T. Barnum, the term was extended to other confused situations by about 1900.

Example Sentences

In any case, this sort of peculiar programming has made the Cannes festival an annual three-ring circus for film buffs.

From The Daily Beast

Now, in fairness, the schedule of the U.S. Open is less like the Super Bowl or the World Series than a three-ring circus.

From The Daily Beast

In 1993, the shows moved to big white tents in Bryant Park and took on the feel of a three-ring circus.

From The Daily Beast

The new money, the new language, the new faces, the new architecture—it's a grown-up three-ring circus to me.

From Project Gutenberg

They had a gang of stevedores working there clock-like, as those fellows work around the big tents of a three-ring circus.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a three-ring circus and concert all by himself, but he doesn't know it, and that's what makes him so good.

From Project Gutenberg

With all the activities of the school taking place at once, we were as excited as two boys seeing their first three-ring circus.

From Project Gutenberg

Though she loved the girl as her own, there were times when she felt that running a three-ring circus would be much easier.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• circus