peanut gallery

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peanut gallery

1. The hindmost or uppermost section of seating in a theater balcony, where the seats are cheapest.

2. A group of people whose opinions are considered unimportant: "Pressure is building ... to force ... Alan Greenspan to cut interest rates and pump up the money supply. [He] has politely ignored these catcalls from the peanut gallery" (H. Erich Heinemann).

pea′nut gal`lery

n. Slang.

1. the rearmost and cheapest section of seats in the balcony of a theater.

2. a source of insignificant criticism: No remarks from the peanut gallery!

[1885–90, Amer.]

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Noun	1.	peanut gallery - (figurative) people whose criticisms are regarded as irrelevant or insignificant (resembling uneducated people who throw peanuts on the stage to express displeasure with a performance); "he ignored complaints from the peanut gallery" people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience"
	2.	peanut gallery - rearmost or uppermost area in the balcony containing the least expensive seats family circle, second balcony, upper balcony area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants" balcony - an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium

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References in periodicals archive ?

A startling scene that unabashedly plays to the peanut gallery shows the production's combative runway vixens engaging in a round of verbal one-upmanship as they take turns kissing their duplicitous Romeo during a fashion show.

More 'Significant' than expected

It's just another fan in the peanut gallery with an opinion, which is meaningless.

Respect in the workplace

They might appreciate the peanut gallery of interlocutors that pipe up throughout her poetry, descendants of George Herbert's God and James Merrill's Ouija board pen pals, their speech-balloon interjections rendered in SMALL CAPS: God, who built Shapero "for endings," "never says anything but YOU HAD ONE JOB"; wondering what kind of dog she'd be, Shapero, or her id, blurts: "I WOULD BE A DEAD DOG, THAT'S WHAT KIND.

Natalie Shapero, Hard Child

Peanuts < peanut gallery (specifically, of the "Howdy Doody" show) < peanut < pea.

Etymons gone wild

The advice from the peanut gallery sounded like a Springbok home game at Ellis Park, and I was pouring sweat

My trophy Maramba

In the peanut gallery, we're not sure what to think.

Willing to be persuaded

Whether you choose to be a parent who works outside of the home or a stay-at-home parent, there will always be someone in the peanut gallery who will vilify you for your decision.

Screen time

The two most prominent members of the peanut gallery of ladies awaiting their turn in Christine's two chairs are Zeinab (Mirna Sakhla) and Safia (Manal Awad).

The perils of hair removal in Gaza

In an effort to keep the polarizing and politically incorrect sculpture out of the public eye and away from the highly opinionated peanut gallery (of which I am a card-carrying member), the Whitney offered Charley numerous discreet locations other than the plaza.

Jewfro Visits Huck and Jim at the Whitney

Ask them to otherwise stay quiet unless you ask for help; catcalls from the peanut gallery won't help keep the situation calm and positive.

Helping the helpless: five things to do if you witness animal abuse

Although if the Internet peanut gallery has its way, Ronnie Creager will be the first on board.

Hello goodbye

The Democratic peanut gallery has pointed to the fact that the poll was in the field before Ted Nugent did a double live gonzo on Abbott's thus far business-as-usual campaign.