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

An uncomfortable game of musical chairs is playing out on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The big names are losing market share, their creative director roles now a musical chairs game of a handful of people trading jobs.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025

Kansas City Chiefs: G Armand Membou, Missouri — It was musical chairs on the Kansas City offensive line at the end of last season.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025

A look passes from one adult to another as if they are playing musical chairs with their eyes, trying to decide who’ll be the one stuck answering Yo’s question.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez