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Glite Dictionary
to dance around the maypole

to dance around the maypole

1 8.4
To take part in a traditional May Day dance in a circle around a tall decorated pole
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : bailar alrededor del palo de mayo

Examples

  • Maybe my own kids danced around the maypole one too many times.

    Blog text (21)

  • They dance around the maypole where we shall be married.

    The Institute (2017)

  • During the May Day celebration, the children will dance around the maypole with colorful ribbons.

  • Every year, the villagers gather to dance around the maypole as part of the spring festivities.

  • On May Day, families join together to dance around the maypole, creating a beautiful display of tradition.

Synonyms

to folk dance
vsto dance around the maypole
3.7

To dance in a traditional style from a region

is a specific May Day ritual dance circling a decorated pole

Antonyms

to stand still
75 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

Surface Forms

dance around the maypole infinitive

Morphology

dance + around + the + maypole

The meaning 'to take part in a traditional dance circling a decorated pole' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents: 'dance' (move rhythmically) + 'around' (in a circular path) + 'maypole' (decorated pole). This is a literal spatial/action description following a common verb + prepositional phrase pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the component words would readily understand it.

Etymology

The verb dance around the maypole comes from a spring tradition where people hold ribbons and walk in a circle around a tall decorated pole called a maypole. That picture of people moving around the pole explains why the phrase means 'to take part in the old May Day dance'.