key to the midway en · NOUN
Etymology
Carny slang, from the custom of sending a rube on a quest for the (non-existent) “key to the midway”.
Meanings
-
A fictional item, the subject of a fool's errand.
Near-synonyms: skyhook, left-handed monkey wrench, left-handed smoke shifter, blinker fluid, muffler bearing, relative bearing grease, pigeon's milk
-
A Ferris wheel or carousel, due to their central location.
“I’m a wheel man,” he says. “I’ve been crazy about Ferris wheels since I was a kid. The Ferris wheel is the key to the midway. When it’s up and running and the lights are on, everybody knows the show is open.”
1985, Rob Karwath, “The Gritty Side Of Life Along The Midway”, Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1985
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| keys to the midway | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
key to the city · key to the kingdom · snark
Synonyms
relative bearing grease · skyhook · left-handed monkey wrench · muffler bearing · blinker fluid · pigeon's milk · left-handed smoke shifter