CARNIVAL
ADJECTIVES
► ALIBI of a carnival game: dishonest, rigged → 1961 US sl.
NOUNS
► ALIBI in a rigged carnival game: the reason given by the game operator to disqualify a legitimate win → 1985 US sl.
► APRON the gross daily receipts from a carnival concession → 1990 US sl.
► BALLY SHOW a carnival sideshow; esp. one having continuous or regularly scheduled performances → 1975 US carnival & circus sl. (Bk.)
► BALLY STAND the platform in front of a side-show tent on which the barker stands, and on which a free exhibition or a sample of the show may be performed in order to lure spectators inside → 1975 US carnival & circus sl. (Bk.)
► BLOW-OUT a large outdoor crowd → 1975 US carnival usage (Bk.)
► BURR the recurring operating expenses in a carnival → 1980 US sl.
► CARNEY ► CARNY 1. a carnival → 1931 US sl.
2. the insider’s language used by carnival workers → 1948 US sl.
► COUNT STORE a rigged carnival game → 1985 US sl.
► DING the expenses incurred in operating a carnival concession → 1985 US sl.
► DUKE SHOT any method by which a carnival game operator allows a customer to win a rigged game → 1985 US sl.
► EDUCATOR in a carnival: the ‘Billboard’ weekly newspaper → 1980 US sl.
► FAG SHOW a carnival show featuring men in women’s dress → 1946 US carnival sl.
► FAKE in the carnival and theatre: a performance → 1885 Amer. sl.
► FLASH an inexpensive carnival prize that is so appealing that people will spend great sums trying to win it → 1927 US sl.
► GARBAGE STAND in a carnival: a novelty concession → 1981 US sl.
► GEORGIA SCUFFLE in a carnival: rough handling of an extremely naive customer in a swindle → 1950 US sl.
► GIMMICK the brake on a gambling wheel → c1920 Can. carnival usage
► G-WHEEL in a carnival: a game wheel that has been rigged for cheating (the ‘G’ is for ‘gaffed’ (rigged)) → 1990 US sl.
► HORSE in circus and carnival usage: one thousand dollars → 1981 US sl.
► HORSE FEED in circus an carnival usage: poor business → 1981 US sl.
► HORSE OPERA a carnival or circus; used disparagingly → 1864 US sl.
► JACKPOT in a carnival: a story of past deeds → 1980 US sl.
► KID SHOW a carnival side show → 1980 US sl.
► MONKEY SUIT a uniform provided by carnival proprietor → 20C Can. carnival usage
► MUD SHOW an exhibition, carnival, performance, etc. held in the open air → 1909 sl.
► MUG JOINT a carnival concession where customers are photographed → 1931 US sl.
► OATS money which a carnival worker steals from his boss → 1985 US sl.
► PERCENTAGE JOINT a carnival concession that relies on volume for profit → 1985 US sl.
► RACKET any rigged carnival game or attraction → 1960 US sl.
► RAG in a carnival midway game: a small prize in a plastic bag → 1985 US sl.
► RAG BAG the lowest category of touring carnival; a show that has fallen on hard times or is fundamentally dishonest → 1940s circus and carnival usage
► RAG JOINT a carnival concession in a canvas booth → 1985 US sl.
► SLUM cheap prizes at a carnival, fair, etc. → 1929 US sl.
► TOPPER in a carnival: a featured act → 1981 US sl.
► WALKBOARDS a platform outside a carnival show or attraction → 1966 US sl.
► X, THE in a carnival: exclusive rights for an item or concession → 1980 US sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► AGINNER a person morally opposed to carnivals and the circus → 1981 US sl.
► BALLYHOO a barker at a carnival → 1915 US sl.
► BALLYHOOER a person who performs a ballyhoo, a flamboyant free performance given outside a carnival attraction in an attempt to lure customers to buy tickets for the show inside → 1901 US circus & carnival usage
► BLOW-OFF a pitchman’s first customer, who often is given a free item in order to induce further sales → 1975 US carnival usage (Bk.)
► CARNIE ► CARNY a person employed by or associated with a travelling carnival → 1939 US sl.
► CARNIVAL LOUSE a person who follows a carnival from town to town and associates with carnival employees, but is not one himself → 1981 US sl.
► GAFFER a carnival manager → c1880 sl.
► GANDY DANCER in a carnival: a grifter who sells novelties →1935 US sl.
► GAWK a local who loiters as the show is assembled or taken down → 1981 US circus & carnival usage
► GAZOONIE ► GAZOONY a manual labourer in a carnival → 1966 US sl.
► GEEK a performer at a carnival whose show consists of bizarre or grotesque acts, such as biting the head off a live animal, such as chickens or snakes → 1919 US sl.
► GILL a carnival customer, esp. a gullible one → 1981 US circus & carnival usage
► GILLY-GALLOO an outsider → 1981 US circus & carnival usage
► GLITTERGAL a female carnival performer → 1960 US circus and carnival usage
► GUY in a carnival: a customer; a patron, usually a man → 1878 Amer. sl.
► GYPSY in a carnival: an undependable employee, esp. a drunk → 1981 US sl.
► HEEL a low-grade pitchman → c1930 Amer. carnival sl.
► HEFTY a performer in a strong-man act → 1981 US circus & carnival sl.
► MINCH an unengaged, low-spending carnival customer → 1928 US circus & carnival sl.
► MONKEY a carnival worker who climbs to assemble rides → 1966 US sl.
► MOOCH 1. a person who watches a pitchman but does not buy → 1975 Amer. carnival sl. (Bk.)
2. a carnival patron who looks to be easy to separate from his or her money → 2006 carnival usage (Bk.)
► NATIVE in a carnival: a local patron → 1980 US sl.
► NICKEL GOUGER the operator of a dishonest carnival game → 1950 US sl.
► TALKER in a carnival: a person who entices customers into the side show → 1960 US sl.
PHRASES
► BLOW AN ARROW ► BUST AN ARROW in a carnival: to become lost when travelling from one town to another → 1973 US sl.
► TAKE A LITTLE, LEAVE A LITTLE used as a description of the standing orders that carnival workers have for cheating customers → 1985 US sl.
VERBS
► BALLY to attract a crowd to a side-show by describing the show loudly and sensationally, usually on a platform in front of it, as by a barker; to vocally advertise a side-show and urge people to come and see it → 1975 US carnival & circus sl. (Bk.)
► BURN THE LOT to cheat a town so badly that no carnival will be able to come to that town for some time → 1989 US sl.
► KICK SAWDUST to follow or join a show → 1981 US circus & carnival usage
Lexicophilia 