# Elvis has left the building

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/elvis-has-left-the-building
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A phrase used to announce the end of a show, usually one performed by an Elvis impersonator.

## Examples

- The concert is over and Elvis has left the building.
- The crowd waited for an encore, but the lights came on and the announcer said Elvis has left the building.
- Once the final curtain fell and the stage crew began dismantling the set, it became clear to the lingering fans that Elvis has left the building.

## Origin

Announced by promoter Al Dvorin at the end of Elvis Presley's concerts in the 1970s as a means to prevent pandemonium and mobbing.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.