Definition

Noun: - A street musician who plays a hand organ or hurdy-gurdy: An organ-grinder is a person, historically common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, who earns money by playing a mechanical musical instrument (a barrel organ or hand organ) in public streets. The instrument is typically operated by turning a crank.

Usage

The term "organ-grinder" specifically refers to the person operating the instrument. It is a historical term and is often associated with a bygone era of street entertainment. The word is a compound noun formed from "organ" (the instrument) and "grinder" (one who turns a crank).

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To blame/pay the organ-grinder, not the monkey": This is an idiomatic expression derived from the common sight of an organ-grinder with a performing monkey. It means to hold the person in charge responsible, not their subordinate or agent.
  • The CEO is the organ-grinder in this scandal; the junior staff are just the monkeys following orders.

Variants and Related Words

• Hand organ (n): The mechanical musical instrument played by an organ-grinder.
• Hurdy-gurdy (n): A stringed musical instrument played by turning a crank, sometimes played by street musicians.
• Street musician (n): A more general term for a performer who plays music in public places for voluntary donations.

Synonyms

• Street musician: A performer who plays music in public spaces.
• Busker: (Chiefly British) A person who performs music or other entertainment in the street for voluntary donations.

Related Idioms

• "The organ-grinder's monkey": Refers to a person who mindlessly does another's bidding or performs tricks for them. It implies a lack of independent thought or action.
  • He's just the organ-grinder's monkey, repeating whatever his boss says.

Noun

1. a street musician who plays a hand organ or hurdy-gurdy