play to the gallery

idiom

: to do things that one thinks will be popular among many people instead of doing what one thinks is right
a governor who refuses to play to the gallery

Examples of play to the gallery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Arising from this, there is a perennial temptation for mathematicians to play to the gallery and to assume the role of magicians and, even more temptingly, high priests. Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2011

Dictionary Entries Near play to the gallery

Cite this Entry

“Play to the gallery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20to%20the%20gallery. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!