Word
peoria
Phoneticspeo·ria
/piˈɔɹiə/
Definition
n. a city in the United States that people often use to represent a typical, average town. If something is popular there, people believe it will be popular everywhere in the country.
n. a city in Illinois frequently used in American idioms to represent the mainstream or average consumer base. Often appears in the rhetorical question 'Will it play in Peoria?' to gauge the broad appeal of a product or idea.
Examples
“The marketing team wants to see if the new ad works in Peoria.”
“Politicians often test their speeches in places like Peoria to ensure their message resonates with middle-class voters.”
Examples
simple
“The marketing team wants to see if the new ad works in Peoria.”
contextual
“Politicians often test their speeches in places like Peoria to ensure their message resonates with middle-class voters.”
Usage
When used as a cultural reference, it is almost always preceded by 'in'.
Idioms
play in Peoria — To receive widespread acceptance among members of the general American public.