| fig., n.amer. |
a situation that is very busy, often in a way that you find unpleasant, confusing, or annoying (macmillandictionary.com); a situation of confusion, characterized by a bewildering variety of events or activities (collinsdictionary.com); something spectacular, tumultuous, entertaining, or full of confused action (collinsdictionary.com); a place or situation that is confusing because there is too much activity (I don’t know how you can work in that office – it’s like a three-ring circus.  ldoceonline.com); a disorderly, complicated, rapidly changing situation or set of events, which is a source of bewilderment, amazement, or amusement (British television viewers had seen how proceedings in US courtrooms can almost turn into a three-ring circus during the OJ Simpson trial. • The Italian Parliament has long been a three-ring circus. wiktionary.org); a disorganized or frenetic scene or spectacle (His attempt at a dignified resignation turned into a three-ring circus • She was, and is, witty and talkative, the ringleader of the three-ring circus round our table when I was growing up. • ‘It truly is a three-ring circus in here,’ says Pollock, shouting directives to couriers between phrases, as Youn scrambles through faxes and emails. • Cannes may appear to be a three-ring circus of high art, low commerce and relentless self – promotion, but underneath the red carpet premieres and parties it is an irresistible celebration of the best in world cinema. • She seemed bemused by the star's decision not to turn her wedding into a three-ring circus but to go for something quiet with a few guests and no helicopters full of long lenses flying overhead. • As various track and field events vie for attention, athletics meets can sometimes seem like a three-ring circus. • The film is a three-ring circus, disjointed and somewhat confusing. • He has a good article on why the commission hearings should have been private and discreet, rather than the three-ring circus we have now. • Whenever an election turns into a three-ring circus, I cast my baleful eye upon the proceedings and wonder what's really going on. • At 7: 30 this morning, when the subway is typically and rightfully sleeping, it was more like a three-ring circus. • This campaign is a three-ring circus and it's mostly his fault. • With the constant three-ring circus, and mutual negotiations now far behind, a solution does not seem likely in the near future. • So it's become a three-ring circus in terms of lawsuits. • I never meant to get involved in the three-ring circus of the Human Genome Project. • The band are showmen with no gimmicks outside of their songs: all they have is a three-ring circus within each tune to keep you occupied, enough musicians for three bands, and enough ideas for 30. • A talented designer knows how to selectively insert graphics into a Web page to enhance and give greater meaning to the copy without it looking like a three-ring circus. • Of course the whole luggage unloading process was a three-ring circus that held the train up about 30 minutes, so we were not surprised. • She has directed with consummate skill and sass, able to keep in clear focus what is sometimes a three-ring circus. • If you live in New York or if you've ever visited New York, you know that every subway station has the potential to be a three-ring circus. • This is a three-ring circus that may well turn into a witch hunt, with pitchforks and torches available at the concession stands. • He seemed a little bit wary of the three-ring circus he had unknowingly walked into. lexico.com) |
