the show must go on
One must finish what one has started; things must continue no matter what.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The show must go on, even if we are tired.”
“My computer crashed during the meeting, but the show must go on.”
“We lost our best player today, but the show must go on.”
“Despite the sudden power outage during the play, the actors continued their performance because the show must go on.”
“Even though the rain ruined the outdoor decorations, the couple decided to get married in the garage because the show must go on.”
“The chef burned his hand during the dinner rush, but he kept cooking for the customers since the show must go on.”
“The store manager told the staff that the show must go on even though the delivery truck arrived three hours late during the busiest sale of the year.”
“Although the lead singer fell ill moments before the curtain rose, the troupe maintained their composure, fully aware that the show must go on.”
The phrase originated in the 19th-century circus industry. It served as a practical instruction to performers and staff that the sequence of acts was to be maintained regardless of accidents, equipment failures, or the occasional animal-related disturbance.
- 01
all dressed up and nowhere to go
Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.
- 02
all systems go
Everything is ready.
- 03
as you go
While one is doing (something); as one progresses.
- 04
boldly go where no man has gone before
To break new ground.
- 05
come and go
To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.
- 06
dog and pony show
Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate, while lacking real substance.
- 07
don't go there
Do not broach that topic.
- 08
easy come, easy go
Easily won and easily lost (usually said when resigned to a loss; something that comes in the same way, goes in the same way)
Last updated August 10, 2026