noun
sideshow
SYD-shoh
noun
1
A minor attraction at a larger event such as a fair or circus.
"The bearded lady was one of the sideshow attractions at the carnival."
2
An event or issue that distracts from something more important.
"The scandal became a sideshow that overshadowed the actual policy debate."
How to Use Sideshow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA minor attraction, or a distraction from the main matter at hand.
Common pairings
carnival sideshow
a mere sideshow
Word Forms
sideshows plural
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The bearded lady was one of the _____ attractions at the carnival.
Etymology
A compound of "side" and "show".