ENGLISH
REFERENCE

peanut gallery

idiom
Meaning

Any source of heckling, unwelcome commentary or criticism, especially from a know-it-all or of an inexpert nature. May also now refer to general audience response: "Let's hear it from the peanut gallery."


Origin

disputed origin

The phrase comes from nineteenth-century vaudeville theatres and refers to the cheap seats at the back of the theatre or in the upper balcony. It came to be applied to other venues as well, referring to the section where less-educated or less-seriously-interested patrons sat. The "peanut" comes from the popularity of that cheap snack in those sections, and the possibility that patrons might throw peanuts at the stage if displeased. In the mid-twentieth century, the Howdy Doody Show associated "peanut gallery" specifically with children.

Examples
SIMPLE

Ignore the peanut gallery and just finish your work.

CONTEXTUAL

The project manager asked for feedback, but he did not want to hear from the peanut gallery.

COMPLEX

Despite the expert's clear explanation, the peanut gallery continued to offer unsolicited and uninformed opinions from the back of the room.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    peanut butter

    To spread resources too thin.

  2. 02

    play to the gallery

    To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.

  3. 03

    rogues' gallery

    Any group of lawbreakers or other disreputable characters.

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