snake charmer

American  

noun

1. an entertainer who seems to charm venomous snakes, usually by music.

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snake charmer British  

noun

1. an entertainer, esp in Asia, who charms or appears to charm snakes by playing music and by rhythmic body movements

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Etymology

Origin of snake charmer

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

In the booth, Suga Free could make street anthems out of beats that sounded made for a polyrhythmic Marrakech snake charmer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2023

It was packed with clichés the West liked - the Indian royalty, a tiger hunt, mating cobras and a snake charmer.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2023

Gold’s industry peers liken the way she does her job to the practice of an alchemist, a snake charmer, a card sharp, as if she were performing some kind of shadowy magic.

From The Guardian • Apr. 26, 2018

The chief snake charmer, wearing a bright red turban and playing a flute, entranced a cobra as it curled from a wicker basket.

From New York Times • May 19, 2013

The bearded lady taught her to play the mandolin, and the snake charmer said she was a natural.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray