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Glite Dictionary
to get this circus on the road

to get this circus on the road

8.3
Start an activity or event after getting ready
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : dar inicio
  • LET'S GET THIS CIRCUS ON THE ROAD.

Examples

  • After weeks of planning, we are finally ready to get this circus on the road.

  • It took months of preparation, but we are eager to get this circus on the road soon.

  • We need to organize everything properly to get this circus on the road by next week.

Synonyms

to get it on
vsto get this circus on the road
  • Informal
10 7.8

To begin an activity with energy

emphasizes beginning a planned event rather than personal involvement
to get the show on the road
vsto get this circus on the road
  • Informal
3 5.2

To start something after getting everything ready

is used when beginning after much effort and arranging
off to the races
vsto get this circus on the road
  • Informal
2 7.0

To start a task quickly with a lot of energy

emphasizes beginning after arranging and effort rather than only energy
to set the wheels in motion
vsto get this circus on the road
  • Informal
1 4.9

Start a series of actions that lead to later changes

focuses on starting the main activity after preparation and effort

Antonyms

to end
∞ 1.0

To stop something or make it finish

to cancel
814 1.0

To decide that a planned event will not happen

How Started

to launch
504 3.7
to kick off
129 3.5
to get this circus on the road
  • Informal
8.3
to get started
481 1.8
to get moving
  • Informal
62 1.6

Surface Forms

get this circus on the road infinitive
getting this circus on the road present participle
gets this circus on the road third person singular
got this circus on the road past
got this circus on the road past participle

Morphology

get + this + circus + on + the + road

The phrase builds on a motion metaphor: 'get' (cause/move) + 'on the road' (set in motion) with 'circus' standing metonymically for an event or show, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can often infer 'start the event.' However, the expression is conventionalized and relies on a metaphorical extension (and a fixed construction similar to 'get the show on the road'), so its exact pragmatic sense and idiomatic usage are not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Get this circus on the road comes from old travelling circuses that packed up their tents and wagons and began to move to the next town, so they literally had to get the circus on the road. That's why today it means 'to start' or 'to begin an activity or event'.