play in Peoria en · VERB
Etymology
The idiomatic sense is reported to have originated in vaudeville performances in the early 1900s.
Meanings
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(US, idiomatic) To receive widespread acceptance among members of the general American public.
Mr. Baker persuaded his boss that this pocketbook explanation of war aims, despite its negative reception with opinion leaders, would play in Peoria.
1990 November 19, William Safire, “Essay: Not Oil Nor Jobs”, in New York Times, retrieved 11 Oct 2016:Cruz was not speaking of Jews. . . . He was talking about liberals and liberalism of the kind that never, ever plays in Peoria.
2016 January 15, Peter Roff, “Cruz-ified”, in U.S. News, retrieved 11 Oct 2016:Will black-lace-trimmed purple panties play in Peoria? Why not? Cool is the common denominator of teens everywhere.
2002 April 29, Dody Tsiantar, “Adieu to the Muumuu”, in Time, retrieved 11 Oct 2016:We must constantly ask ourselves whether our analysis will play in Peoria.
1977, Institute for World Order, World Food/Hunger Studies, →ISBN, page 9:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| played in Peoria | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| played in Peoria | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| playing in Peoria | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| plays in Peoria | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |