peanut galleries
Rowdy upper balconies
Peanut galleries originally meant the cheapest seats in a theater—the uppermost balcony where peanuts were sold and rowdy commentary was common.
Now the term refers to any group of critics or hecklers offering unsolicited opinions from the sidelines: No comments from the peanut gallery, please.
The singular form is more common.
- groundlingsStanding theater audience
- balconyRaised exterior platform
- hecklersDisruptive audience shouters
- kibitzingOffering uninvited commentary
- backseat driversPassengers offering unsolicited directions
two cents · chatter · interrupters · jeers · laughter · spectating · barbs · mocker · wise guys · audience · satire · cheap seats · nose bleed seats · back row · idioms · snark · taunts · trolling
peanut galleriesorchestra seats
Ground-level concert hall seating
front row · box seats · VIP section · dress circle · mezzanine
peanut galleriesdecision-makers
Those with choosing power
experts · stakeholders · authorities · insiders · principals
peanut gallerieselite
Superior select group
upper crust · aristocracy · high society · VIPs · patrons