gong show
Spectacular public disaster
A gong show is a situation or event marked by chaos, incompetence, or spectacular failure.
The term comes from a 1970s television talent show where poor performers were dismissed by the sound of a gong.
In Canadian slang especially, it describes any disorganized mess: The meeting was a complete gong show—nobody knew what was happening.
The phrase implies entertainment value despite (or because of) the dysfunction.
Totally without arrangement
- messyLacking order or neatness
- shambolicCompletely lacking order
- disarrayLack of order
- haphazardLacking organization or plan
disaster · fiasco · debacle · trainwreck · clusterfuck · shambles · pandemonium · bedlam
Competition participants
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- buzzerElectric signaling device
- hookCurved catching device
NBC · syndication · 1970s · acts · stage · host · performers · audition
Trial performance for selection
- performersThose who entertain audiences
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- actsDeeds or play sections
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
singing · dancing · contestants · variety · showcase · stage · talent · judges
North American northerner
- hockeyStick-and-goal sport
- politicsGovernmental power struggles
- OttawaCanada's seat of government
- parliamentaryOf a legislature
bureaucratic · meeting · workplace · corporate · disorganized · inefficient · frustrating · waste of time
chaotic
Totally without arrangement
haphazard · disaster · fiasco · debacle · trainwreck · clusterfuck · shambles · pandemonium · bedlam · circus
contestants
Competition participants
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- buzzerElectric signaling device
hook · NBC · syndication · 1970s · acts · stage · host · performers · audition · rejection
audition
Trial performance for selection
- performersThose who entertain audiences
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- actsDeeds or play sections
competition · singing · dancing · contestants · variety · showcase · stage · talent · judges · elimination
Canadian
North American northerner
parliamentary · bureaucratic · meeting · workplace · corporate · disorganized · inefficient · frustrating · waste of time · bungled
- CanadianaCanadian, Canadian flag, maple syrup, maple leaf, beaver
gong showwell-oiled machine
Flawlessly coordinated working system
clockwork · orderly · tight ship · streamlined · systematic
gong showmasterpiece
Supreme artistic achievement
triumph · success · tour de force · virtuoso performance · polished
gong showsuccess story
Narrative of achievement
triumph · masterclass · tour de force · flawless execution · textbook example
gong, show, gongs, gonged, gonging, shows, showed, shown, showing