clown car

[kloun kahr]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a very small car used in a comedic circus routine, in which the normal passenger capacity is greatly exceeded by the numerous clowns who climb out from inside.
Informal.��a group whose size seems absurdly excessive for the purported function of the group, and whose effectiveness is therefore questionable.
The planning committee has added yet another member to its clown car, almost guaranteeing further delays.
Informal.��a small car.
He used to call my old Beetle a clown car, but when gas prices soared, I got the last laugh.

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First recorded in 1950–55; from a comedy routine used in the Cole Bros. Circus

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