road show

¹

or roadshow

noun

1. a show, such as a play or musical comedy, performed by a touring group of actors.
2. an important motion picture, usually presented only twice daily on a reserved-seat basis and at increased prices.
3. any traveling exhibit, such as one promoting a company's products or a government program.
4. Informal. any group traveling around the country for a specific purpose, such as a political candidate together with an entourage.

road-show

²

[ rohd-shoh ]

adjective

1. of or relating to road shows.

verb (used with object)

, road-showed, road-show·ing.

1. to present as a road show.

road show

noun

1. 1. a radio show broadcast live from one of a number of towns or venues being visited by a disc jockey who is touring an area
   2. the touring disc jockey and the personnel and equipment needed to present such a show

      the Radio 1 road show will be in Brighton next week

2. a group of entertainers, esp pop musicians, on tour
3. any occasion when an organization attracts publicity while touring or visiting

   an antiques road show

   a royal road show

Word History and Origins

Origin of road show¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Origin of road show²

First recorded in 1870–80

Idioms and Phrases

A tour made for a particular purpose, especially a political campaign. For example, It was primary season, and every would-be candidate was planning a road show . This term originated about 1900 for touring theatrical productions and in the mid-1900s began to be transferred to other endeavors.

Example Sentences

I think it needs to be a road show into our communities to make it easier for people that live there.

From Voice of San Diego

Another result, said Buyer, has road shows going virtual—a process she says is superior because it lets a company visit more potential investors without having to hopscotch all over the country.

From Fortune

Then they have to go on a road show to pitch potential investors before their public market debut.

From Digiday

A road show is in the works; it will visit some 35 cities beginning in September.

From The Daily Beast

It was the most perfect party, a road show no one thought would end.

From The Daily Beast

Bibi Netanyahu talked to the World Economic Forum this afternoon like a pitchman on a road show.

From The Daily Beast

They disparage his trip to a Navy shipbuilder as a “road show.”

From The Daily Beast

The ambassador-commander road show should in turn elicit renewed commitments from Afghans to fight hardest—but not alone.

From The Daily Beast

Each camp of the airmen looked to Tom, when he drew near, like the pitch of a road show.

From Project Gutenberg

But the plain fact about the ordinary little southern "road show" is that it does not deserve to make money.

From Project Gutenberg

Ain't no sich good times now as we had in de old road show days.

From Project Gutenberg

There was one in Ohio, she remembered: she played it once with a Shubert road show.

From Project Gutenberg