Dog and pony show

[snopes]

Comment: This sounds just disturbing enough to make me wonder if there are
folks out there who'd do it.

My wife SWEARS that the phrase 'dog and pony show' is taken from a mexican
form of entertainment where groups of young woman are put in an area to
fornicate with 'dogs and ponies' for the sexual gratification of a crowd.

I think it's just a phrase meaning to show off.

[Beachlife!]

I have read many times in my reading on Cicuses that the term comes from the early small circus which often had Dog and Horse acts. I'm not sure if that's true, but it's oft repeated in Circus writings.

[dfresh]

Donkey show != dog and pony show. Very different things.

[Logoboros]

The OED gives this primary definition: "Originally: a small circus or travelling show (freq. depreciative). In extended use: a small-scale or poor quality entertainment or service" with a first documented use in 1914. There's not really any etymological info given.

But, one definition of "dog" in the OED (#3g) is "A horse that is slow, difficult to handle, etc. (slang)." So that might mean a "dog and pony show" originally referred to a show using inferior horses, not racing thoroughbreds or warhorses, etc. So if a dog and pony show is a lame horse show, then that can be extended to just about any kind of lame or underperforming entertainment.

--Logoboros

In American business vernacular, it means a presentation involving lots of hoopla including handouts and of course a Power Point presentation. In other words, a small circus.

[Singing in the Drizzle]

I always thought that it came from the small one wagon circus entertainers. They consist of a man, woman (maybe wife), pony to pull wagon, and guard/hunting dog. Then then try to make and elaborate show entertain with the little they have.

A quick search of the internet does not say how small, but it look like I'm not to far off.

A song by Guttermouth on the subject.

Lyrics are NSFW or anywhere or anyone realy for that matter,

I warned you.

[snapdragonfly]

Originally Posted by Richard

In American business vernacular, it means a presentation involving lots of hoopla including handouts and of course a Power Point presentation. In other words, a small circus.

That's exactly what they told us it meant in art school. ~Because of course advertising artists are a big part in producing "dog and pony" shows where sketches, layouts and mockups would also be included, so it came up in our teacher's discussions a lot.