the show must go on

English

Etymology

Originated in the 19th-century circus industry.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Phrase

the show must go on

1. (literally, theater) Regardless of what happens, whatever show has been planned still has to be staged for the waiting patrons.
2. (idiomatic) One must finish what one has started; things must continue no matter what.

Translations

One must finish what one has started.

• Esperanto: la spektaklo devas daŭri
• French: le spectacle doit continuer
• Polish: przedstawienie musi trwać
• Portuguese: o espetáculo deve continuar
• Russian: шоу должно продолжаться (šou dolžno prodolžatʹsja)
• Spanish: la función debe continuar

See also

• business as usual