# merry Andrew

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/merry-andrew
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person who clowns publicly; a buffoon; an entertainer's assistant.

## Examples

- The Merry Andrew juggled balls in the town square.
- The circus needed a Merry Andrew to warm up the crowd before the main act started.
- Though once a respected actor, he had fallen so low that he now played Merry Andrew to a second-rate magician, capering about in motley for pennies.

## Origin

Originally associated with a specific act at Bartholomew Fair; later said to have come from the name of Andrew Boorde. (disputed)

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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.