MUSICAL CHAIRS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does musical chairs mean? 

• MUSICAL CHAIRS (noun)
  The noun MUSICAL CHAIRS has 2 senses:

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 eliminated; then a chair is removed and the march resumes until only the winner is seated

2. a rearrangement that has no practical effect or significance

  Familiarity information: MUSICAL CHAIRS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MUSICAL CHAIRS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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 eliminated; then a chair is removed and the march resumes until only the winner is seated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

going to Jerusalem; musical chairs

Hypernyms ("musical chairs" is a kind of...):

child's game (a game enjoyed by children)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A rearrangement that has no practical effect or significance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

shareholders don't want the company playing musical chairs with their investment

Hypernyms ("musical chairs" is a kind of...):

rearrangement (changing an arrangement)