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merry-go-round
[ mer-ee-goh-round ]
noun
- Also called carousel. (in amusement parks, carnivals, etc.) a revolving, circular platform with wooden horses or other animals, benches, etc., on which people may sit or ride, usually to the accompaniment of mechanical or recorded music.
- a rapid whirl or a busy round, as of social life or business affairs.
merry-go-round
noun
- See roundaboutanother name for roundabout
- a whirl of activity or events
the merry-go-round of the fashion world
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Word History and Origins
Origin of merry-go-round1
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Example Sentences
You need some scuff marks from the great merry-go-round we call life.
When he finally emerged in “a country lane,” he felt as if he had “jumped off a merry-go-round.”
The worst thing they do is break into a zoo and ride the merry-go-round.
Anybody can push a merry-go-round, or push their buddy on sled down a hill.
Hired as a mechanic, he would soon find himself behind the wheel, yet “he found oval racing a deadening merry-go-round.”
Once Drouet took Whistler to the fair at Neuilly, made him ride in a merry-go-round.
It was a merry-go-round of coasters climbing up single file by the slide while coaster after coaster shot singly down.
Thereat the Girl Scouts' washing went on as merrily as a merry-go-round at a picnic.
And she visited a merry-go-round, and took part in a seaside pageant.
He felt as he had once felt in his rash youth when another boy had enticed him on the merry-go-round at a picnic.
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Related Words
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More About Merry Go Round
What is a merry-go-round?
A merry-go-round is an amusement park ride that consists of a revolving, circular platform with wooden horses or other fixtures, as in Sofia and Camila begged their parents to ride the merry-go-round with them.
A merry-go-round is also known as a carousel. People sit on the fixtures, while the platform goes around slowly and cheery (some might say “cheesy”) music plays.
Merry-go-round can also be used figuratively to refer to a whirl, or a busy round, of activity, as in Sports fans are always delighted by the merry-go-round of the trading season.
Example: I always enjoyed listening to carnival music when I rode the merry-go-round as a kid.
Where does merry-go-round come from?
The first records of merry-go-round come from around 1720. The name most likely comes from the fact that riders “go (a)round” in circles and are hopefully merry while they do so.
Merry-go-rounds are common attractions at amusement parks. The ride is gentle and is usually safe even for younger children. Sometimes, a merry-go-round features hanging rings, often made of brass, that riders can attempt to grab as they rotate around. From this practice we get the phrase brass ring, which means “wealth or success” or “an opportunity to try for a prize.”
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How is merry-go-round used in real life?
The merry-go-round is a common amusement park ride, and the word is commonly used both in the literal and figurative senses.
my sibling isn’t little anymore so i can’t use em as an excuse to ride the merry go round 😡😔
— iliana chavarria ;) (@ilianajazlyn) February 9, 2020
An adult does not feel free to ride a merry-go-round alone, and that is our loss.
— Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) July 5, 2010
Life is a ride on a merry-go-round from which we can't get off… let's make it worth the price of the ticket!
— Wyclef Jean (@wyclef) March 8, 2013
Try using merry-go-round!
Is merry-go-round used correctly in the following sentence?
Alexa was quickly overwhelmed by the chaotic merry-go-round of the Hollywood film world.
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