up goes the donkey
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Said to have originated from a travelling showman whose finale involved the hoisting of a donkey on a pole or ladder.
Phrase
[edit]- (obsolete) The performance begins.
Usage notes
[edit]- Used in conjunction with a required amount, to encourage the public to pay more money before the start of a show: e.g. "Twopence more, and up goes the donkey!"
References
[edit]- 1873, John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary (under donkey)