organ grinder

== English == === Etymology === From the repetitive grinding involved in playing a barrel organ. In figurative senses, from the common 19th-century practice of training monkeys to dance to an organ grinder's music in order to perform on the street and solicit donations and spare change. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɔːɡən ˌɡɹaɪndə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɔɹɡən ˌɡɹaɪndəɹ/ Hyphenation: or‧gan grind‧er === Noun === organ grinder (plural organ grinders) The player of a barrel organ. Synonym: barrel organist (figurative) The person who is in charge, rather than a lackey or representative; the person truly responsible for another's actions. Synonym: the organ grinder, not the monkey ==== Alternative forms ==== organ-grinder ==== Derived terms ==== the organ grinder, not the monkey ==== Translations ====