# "Dog & Pony Show" -- say what?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-pony-show-say-what/125048>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 22, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-pony-show-say-what/125048 "2002-08-22T07:14:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-pony-show-say-what/125048/1 "2002-08-22T07:14:18Z")

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What is the origin of the phrase “dog & pony show?” Is it circus-related?

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**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-pony-show-say-what/125048/2 "2002-08-22T13:48:47Z")

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Seems to be. Check [http://www.word-detective.com/051600.html#dogandpony](http://www.word-detective.com/051600.html#dogandpony)

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-pony-show-say-what/125048/3 "2002-08-23T00:22:47Z")

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[http://www.word-detective.com/051600.html#dogandpony](http://www.word-detective.com/051600.html#dogandpony)

That link is the live one you need for Evan’s column.

I think his explanation is just fine.