Peanut gallery

[Francois]

It was difficult to convince him as I was getting pelted by potato(e)s and tomatos from the peanut gallery.

What's that peanut gallery stuff? I googled a bit and found some kind of kid show, but was it famous for flying veggies?
BTW the sentence is figurative...

FRC

[Casiopea]

What's that peanut gallery stuff? I googled a bit and found some kind of kid show, but was it famous for flying veggies?
BTW the sentence is figurative...

FRC

In the olden days , movie theatres sold peanuts, and they also had balconies. If the people watching the movie didn't like a particular scene or even if they liked the scene, they'd throw peanuts, which, if thrown from the balcony, would land on the people seated below.

[Natalie27]

What's that peanut gallery stuff? I googled a bit and found some kind of kid show, but was it famous for flying veggies?
BTW the sentence is figurative...

FRC

Peanut gallery can mean a few things:

child audience or ignorant spectators who can indeed start throwing things around and get really noisy ( just like Cassy explained).


We usually use that term ( in Canada at least) when we talk about the cheapest seats at the hockey arena ( or any other arena for that matter) - the uppermost area where you can't really see too much. We call those peanut gallery seats or a "nose bleed" section.

Also, the peanut gallery term is oftentimes used to signify an unimportant opinion:

ex.

-Mom, it's not my fault I have a "C" in social studies again! This teacher is a real goof! He reads everything from a book, never jokes, never smiles and has a bad breath.
-I see, another peanut gallery opinion when you know you might not pass....hmmmm

[Tdol]

I've never heard this in the UK- maybe we throw other things.

[Francois]

OK, thank you for your answers.

FRC

[Casiopea]

OK, thank you for your answers.

FRC

You're welcome. Natalie's additions are fab!

[shane]

I've never heard this in the UK- maybe we throw other things.

Like toilet rolls, at football matches.

[blacknomi]

Am I late?

1. Late 19C, the top gallery, the 'gods' in a theatre.
2. Late 19C, ignorant, vociferous spectaculors.
3. 1940+, the front rowof the stalls in a cinema (the comsumption of peanuts by the occupants of these seats)

Source is from: Cassell's Dictionary of Slang by Jonathon Green

[Natalie27]

You're welcome. Natalie's additions are fab!

Thank you, Cassy!

The figurative meaning is that of a person of small stature, who makes a lot of noise but isn't much of a threat... in other words, a big yapper and a loudmouth.

OK. so much from the peanut gallery, then