Dictionary

song-and-dance man en · NOUN

Etymology

From song-and-dance + -man. The term originates from the late 19th-century era of American vaudeville, where performers put on crowd-pleasing, variety-style routines.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:slightly dated) A multi-talented entertainer who specializes in combining singing, dancing, and sometimes light comedy.
   • There was music in John's blood. His paternal grandfather, also named John, was a professional song-and-dance man. 2020, The Editors of PEOPLE, “John”, in PEOPLE Celebrating Beatlemania, page 27:

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