CLOWN CAR Definition & Meaning

clown car

[ kloun kahr ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a very small car used in a comedic circus routine, in which the normal passenger capacity is greatly exceeded by the numerous clowns who climb out from inside.
Informal. a group whose size seems absurdly excessive for the purported function of the group, and whose effectiveness is therefore questionable:
The planning committee has added yet another member to its clown car, almost guaranteeing further delays.
Informal. a small car:
He used to call my old Beetle a clown car, but when gas prices soared, I got the last laugh.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of clown car¹

First recorded in 1950–55; from a comedy routine used in the Cole Bros. Circus

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As the absurdity of this clown car of ignorance and arrogance unfolds, the most dangerous aspect of it has, at least so far, received the least media attention: Trump advisors are exchanging official communications on an app deliberately set to delete all evidence of their communications, which appears to be their standard operating procedure.

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Republicans are lining up to confirm a clown car worth of Trump's dangerously unqualified candidates to run important federal offices.

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Now Republicans are lining up to confirm a clown car worth of Trump's dangerously unqualified candidates to run important federal offices.

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In fact, Trump's entire clown car of nominees offers many opportunities to stoke division among Republicans, by forcing them to argue over topics like "do vaccines work?" or "should it be okay if people keep worrying the head of intelligence is a Russian asset?"

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When asked about McAfee potentially being tapped for a federal food advisory role, Marler wrote in an email: “Clown Car.”

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