World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariescirque de puces
Pronunciation / Transliteration: siʁk də pys
"Le vieux spectacle forain présentait un curieux cirque de puces."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
An entertainment consisting of live fleas attached to miniature carts, wire models, or other props, trained or arranged to create the illusion of performing circus acts.
"Historically, a nineteenth-century flea-circus would draw crowds fascinated by the astonishingly tiny scale of the performance." - 2
A chaotic, disorganized, or ridiculously small-scale operation or situation.
"Trying to coordinate the schedule of all the independent contractors felt like running a flea-circus."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Combining the Old English word 'flēah' (flea) with 'circus', derived from Latin and Greek meaning a ring or circular arena. Originating in the 19th century, it initially referred to actual novelty exhibitions featuring live fleas attached to miniature props, later expanding metaphorically to describe any small-scale, absurdly intricate, or miniature enterprise.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Flea-circus"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Flea-circus" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cirque de puces
Transliteration: siʁk də pys
"Le vieux spectacle forain présentait un curieux cirque de puces."
Flohzirkus
Transliteration: ˈfloːˌtsɪɐkʊs
"Der historische Flohzirkus faszinierte die Zuschauer mit winzigen Kunstücken."
circo delle pulci
Transliteration: ˈtʃirko delle ˈpultʃi
"Il circo delle pulci è un'attrazione da fiera d'altri tempi."
circo de pulgas
Transliteration: ˈsiɾko de ˈpulɣas
"El circo de pulgas era un espectáculo muy popular en las ferias ambulantes."
circo de pulgas
Transliteration: ˈsiɾku dʒi ˈpuɫɡɐs
"Assistir a um circo de pulgas é uma experiência bastante inusitada."
पिस्सू सर्कस
Transliteration: pissu sarkas
"पुराने समय में पिस्सू सर्कस एक अनोखा और विचित्र मनोरंजन हुआ करता था।"
跳蚤马戏团
Transliteration: tiào zao mǎ xì tuán
"跳蚤马戏团是一种罕见且古怪的微型杂技表演。"
벼룩 서커스
Transliteration: byeoruk seokeoseu
"벼룩 서커스는 과거 유행했던 매우 독특한 소형 구경거리였다."
蚤のサーカス
Transliteration: nomi no sākasu
"蚤のサーカスはかつて大道芸として人気を博した見世物です。"
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