merry-go-round

plural merry-go-rounds

1. Synonym of carousel (“a pleasure ride, typically found at amusement parks and fairs and accompanied by music, consisting of a slowly revolving circular platform on which are fixed various seats, frequently shaped like horses or other animals, cars, etc., which may also move up and down”).First known use mid 18th c.

   William had eleven consecutive rides on the merry-go-round. He had made up his mind to have twelve, but, much to his regret, had to relinquish the twelfth owing to certain unpleasant sensations.

   1922 May, Richmal Crompton, “The Best Laid Plans”, in Just—William, London: George Newnes […], published July 1941, →OCLC, page 223

   2 more examples

   When we left the Madeleine we took our way to the Place de la Concorde, and thence through the Elysian Fields […] There were merry-go-rounds, wooden horses, and other provision for children's amusements among the trees; […]

   1858 January 9 (date written), Nathaniel Hawthorne, “France”, in Passages from the French and Italian Note-books of Nathaniel Hawthorne, volume I, London: Strahan & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, page 23

   Can you even distinguish yourself from me? Can you even recall how to think? Can you pull out the tube you suck on to feed? Have you ever formed your own beliefs? Behold the merry-go-round Circle so fast you can't scream Forget you ever knew ground Can't stop now

   2025, “Don't Forget to Say Please”, Greg Puciato (lyrics), performed by Better Lovers

   Synonyms: giddy-go-round, go-round, merry-go-around, merry-go-whirl, roundabout, whirligig, carousel

   1. attributiveoftenrail transportA freight train of hopper wagons which loads and unloads its cargo while moving continuously on a circular track, often incorporating a balloon loop.

      Reshaping [of British Railways] initiated the development of what would become merry-go-round trains, delivering coal non-stop to power stations in newly built hopper wagons.

      2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of Things to Come …”, in Rail, number 978, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 48

      1 more example

      Some of the desirable characteristics of the "Merry-go-round" railway described in this article are found in the Tyne Dock–Consett iron ore traffic of the N.E.R. [North Eastern Railway]. The ore is carried in high capacity wagons, run in trains of fixed formation. A triangle at the Consett works enables each train, complete with its locomotive, to be turned and sent back without any remarshalling after unloading to Tyne Dock. At the quayside, the wagons are mechanically loaded as a train and at Consett they run directly on to a gantry above unloading bunkers; they have air-operated bottom-discharge doors worked from the locomotive.

      1963 January, G[erard] F[rancis] Fiennes, “The ‘Merry-go-Round’ Railway—a New Plan for Mineral Trains”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 23

      Synonyms: giddy-go-round, go-round, merry-go-around, merry-go-whirl, roundabout, whirligig

   2. USA piece of playground equipment consisting of a circular platform that is made to revolve by pushing while users stand on it.

      Synonyms: giddy-go-round, go-round, merry-go-around, merry-go-whirl, roundabout, whirligig, carousel, roundabout

2. figurativelyA bustle of activity; also, a meaningless cycle of activity.

   Come join the fun, it's a merry-go-round / Everyone's dancing their troubles away

   1983, Lionel Richie, “All Night Long”, in Can't Slow Down

   2 more examples

   Some of us are lucky enough to still have families that care. But more often than not, we find that we have lost contact with the outside world, which leaves us very vulnerable in the merry-go-round of the parole process.

   1984 August 18, LaVille Hannon, “Community Voices: Coming Out Help”, in Gordon Gottlieb, editor, Gay Community News, volume 12, number 6, Boston, Mass.: The Bromfield Street Educational Foundation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 3

   There's no time for happiness today / Got a date for lunch, a plastic tray / Got a deal to sign her life away / Got an early grave she's gotta make / And we are all insane / Hold on / Slow down / You'll never get to heaven on this merry-go-round […]

   1997, “The Greatest Show on Earth”, in Strangelove, performed by Strangelove, [United Kingdom]: Food Records, →OCLC

3. figurativelyball gamesA series of singles and doubles that allows the batting team to score while still having runners on base who can be driven in by the next batter.

   Russell kept the merry-go-round moving with an RBI single that advanced Henderson to third.

4. KenyafigurativelyAn informal cooperative scheme in which members (often women) regularly contribute money to a pool, the collected money being then paid out to one of the members; this is repeated so that every member eventually receives money. The collected money may also be invested, or loaned to members.

   Synonyms: chit fund, ROSCA, susu, tanda