musical chairs

American  

noun

1. Also called going to Jerusalem.  a game in which players march to music around two rows of chairs placed back to back, there being one chair less than the number of players, the object being to find a seat when the music stops abruptly. The player failing to do so is removed from the game, together with one chair, at each interval.

2. Informal. a situation or series of events in which jobs, decisions, prospects, etc., are changed with confusing rapidity.

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musical chairs British  

noun

1. a party game in which players walk around chairs while music is played, there being one fewer chair than players. Whenever the music stops, the player who fails to find a chair is eliminated

2. any situation involving a number of people in a series of interrelated changes

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Etymology

Origin of musical chairs

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The poaching has created a game of musical chairs for lawyers on this rarefied roster.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

It’s a get-in-where-you-fit-in or get-edged-all-the-way-out kind of city, wherein a deceptively laissez-faire game of musical chairs can determine your fate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

The passage of the redistricting measure triggered a statewide game of musical chairs, setting in motion the chairs as well as the players.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2025

The musical chairs look set to continue, which might sound pleasing to the ears of Celtic’s front three.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024

I can’t go soft—not as long as I’m nobody’s real kid—not while I’m just something to play musical chairs with .

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson