organ grinder

noun

1. an itinerant street musician who earns a living by playing a hand organ or hurdy-gurdy.

organ-grinder

noun

1. a street musician playing a hand organ for money

Word History and Origins

Origin of organ grinder¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

He rates a podcaster below “movies, TV, recording artist, radio personality, mime and organ grinder monkey.”

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Johnson is on a short leash and looks like a trained monkey with an organ grinder named Trump.

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It was a monkey and an organ grinder.

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As the organ grinder reached the end of his song, the crowd applauded, and the monkey danced.

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He cranks the handle like an organ grinder and more nuggets of phosphate issue forth.

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