circus
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a group of performers like clowns, acrobats, and magicians who travel to different places to put on shows.
n.a travelling company of performers, typically including acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, performing in a circular arena.
Simple“The children were excited when the circus came to town and set up a big tent.”
In context“The traditional circus featured a variety of death-defying aerial acts and slapstick comedy routines that appealed to audiences of all ages.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place or event that is very noisy, busy, or disorganized.
n.a situation characterized by noisy, confused, or excessive activity; often used to describe media frenzies or disorganized events.
Simple“The office became a total circus as everyone tried to finish their reports at the last minute.”
In context“The trial turned into a media circus, with hundreds of reporters camped outside the courthouse vying for a single quote from the lawyers.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a round open area in a city where several streets meet.
n.a circular open space at the intersection of several streets, common in British urban planning.
Simple“We met our friends at Piccadilly Circus before going to see a play.”
In context“The city's most famous circus serves as a major transport hub, connecting four primary arterial roads in the heart of the shopping district.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a large, long building used for chariot races in ancient Rome.
n.an ancient Roman roofless enclosure, usually oblong with rounded ends, used primarily for chariot racing and gladiatorial games.
Simple“The guide showed us the ruins of the ancient circus where chariots once raced.”
In context“Archaeological excavations revealed the original foundations of the circus, providing insight into the massive scale of Roman public entertainment.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to perform in a circus or to show something off in a loud, public way.
v.to perform in or as if in a circus; to parade or display something in a theatrical or public manner.
Simple“The politician circused his ideas across the country to gain more votes.”
In context“The troupe circused through the provinces, bringing a fleeting sense of wonder to the isolated rural communities they visited.”
From Middle English circus, circo, from Latin circus (“ring, circle”), from Ancient Greek κρίκος (kríkos), κίρκος (kírkos, “ring”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). Doublet of cirque. Cognate with Old English hring (whence English ring) and Old English hringsetl (“circus”, literally “ring-seat”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Emperors, spectacle, and the machinery of keeping a city entertained.
- 01
bread and circuses (idiom)
Food and entertainment handed out by those in power to keep the public quiet.
Juvenal's complaint.
- 02
a Roman holiday (idiom)
Enjoyment taken from watching somebody else suffer.
Byron on the Dying Gaul.
- 03
fiddle while Rome burns (idiom)
To busy yourself with trivia while a disaster you could be addressing unfolds.
Nero and the fire of AD 64.
- 04
triumph (word)
a great success or victory after a lot of hard work; as a verb, it means to win or succeed against something difficult.
The victory parade.
- 05
laurel (word)
a type of evergreen tree with shiny leaves, often used as a symbol of success or victory.
The victor's wreath.
- 06
rest on one's laurels (idiom)
To rely on past success and stop making the effort to keep improving.
What the wreath came to mean.