| 释义 |
dog-and-pony show, n. N. Amer. slang.
Brit. |ˌdɒg(ə)n(d)ˈpəʊni ʃəʊ|, U.S. |ˈdɔgənˈpoʊni ˌʃoʊ|, |ˈdɑgənˈpoʊni ˌʃoʊ|
[‹ dog-and-pony adj. + show n.1]
1. Freq. depreciative. Originally: a small circus or travelling show, esp. (in early use) one featuring only dogs and ponies. In extended use: a small-scale or poor quality entertainment or service.
1885Atchison (Kansas) Daily Globe 9 Oct. Prof. Morris' dog and pony show, is billed in Atchison for Wednesday night. 1914B. Tarkington Penrod i. xix. 174 Arrived upon the populous and festive scene of the Dog and Pony Show, he first turned his attention to the brightly decorated booths that surrounded the tent. 1950W. M. Prince Southern Part of Heaven xix. 229 The dog and pony show, alas, has passed these many years. 1989B. Hambly Beauty & Beast 220 Escort services..ranging from sleazeball dog-and-pony shows to the hire of well-groomed products of Eastern finishing schools. 1994P. Grescoe Blood Vessel 16 D'you figure you could tart up your little dog-and-pony show for a larger audience?
2.
a. An elaborate occasion or display designed to attract people's attention. Freq. depreciative, implying unnecessary ostentation or a lack of substance.
1953San Francisco News 1 Apr. 21/1, I imagine there is an awful lot of quiet glee these days in the ranks of the Democrats, who are watching a dog-and-pony show that threatens to rival the hassel [sic] that rid the land of Democratic influence for four years. 1978W. Groom Better Times than These xvii. 282 In this battalion there's not going to be any outward celebration of Christmas. Doesn't mean they can't recognize Christmas, but no dog-and-pony show. 1997J. Tate Shroud of Gnome 20, I turned on the waterworks... That's a nice dog and pony show you have there, she said... You're really chewing up the scenery tonight. 2002St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 10 Jan. b5 The FAA delayed several American Airlines flights..for several hours. The fact of the matter is, it's nothing more than a dog-and-pony show to give us this sense of security.
b. A briefing, a presentation, esp. a full, detailed, or elaborate one.
1976B. Bruce-Briggs Politics of Planning 287 The planners will be dragged before committees and put through ‘dog-and-pony shows’ to be blamed for the nation's woes. 1991J. Phillips You'll never eat Lunch in this Town Again 467, I will put on a dog-and-pony show for them and all their executives, but..I don't want to end up with an overall development deal. 2001Washington Post 25 July c7/2 Network execs who have spent lavishly to put on the dog-and-pony shows here. 2004N. Y. Rev. Bks. 23 Sept. 88/1 It was a briefing in the classic mode of the sort sometimes called a dog and pony show—slides and flip charts about missile payloads and ranges; [etc.]. |