Hidden Circus Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lion taming

...Ha(LI ON TAM IN G)ordon's ...

Animal acts of all sorts have gone out of fashion as the fight for animal rights has gained ground but in earlier years the lion taming act was a big crowd pleaser, with a man (or woman) pitting their skill against the wild beast with very little protection. I remember seeing one such act in a small travelling circus in Spain, and wanting to give Leo, the lion, a hug he seemed so bored and harmless. He also appeared to be well past retirement age.

Answer: Tightrope

...so (TIGHT ROPE) will...

Tightrope walkers perform many acts of daring high above the floor of the circus tent, and even dare to cross places like Niagara Falls, as did Nik Wallenda in 2012. He's a member of the legendary circus family known as the Flying Wallendas.

Answer: Juggle

...the (JUG GLE)n...

While it is possible for an ordinary person to learn to juggle, circus jugglers are very skilled and besides balls and clubs are also known to juggle hoops, flaming torches, knives and no end of unusual objects. That Spanish circus I mentioned before had a female juggler who was very good at keeping a number of hoops either in the air or spinning for an extended period of time.

Answer: Ringmaster

...lee(RING MA STER)n words...

The ringmaster is the master of ceremonies, the fellow who keeps the show going and all three rings full of performers. He'll also make sure to set up a diversion should some accident befall any of the performers.

Answer: Acrobat

...mani(AC ROB AT) least...

Acrobats might perform on horseback, as well as tumbling around the ring, building human pyramids and otherwise filling the tent with their energy. Trapeze artists and highwire performers are also types of acrobat.

Answer: Unicycle

...r(UN I CYCLE) to...

It takes great balance and a strong core to ride a unicycle, and there's usually at least one to be seen at the circus, often ridden by one of the clowns. As its name suggests, the unicycle is a wheel with a seat and pedals and not much else. I'll stick to two wheels at least, thank you!

Answer: Clown

...musi(C LOW N)otes...

Clowns are everywhere at the circus, making the people laugh or distracting attention from anything that might have gone wrong. Several of them might all arrive in one tiny car, another might ride a unicycle and others might work with some performing dogs. Some are happy, some are sad but all do their best to entertain the crowd.

Answer: Parade

...s(PAR A DE)dicated...

In years gone by the circus parade would announce to a town that the circus had arrived and the big top was being set up on a suitable field, while all the various animals and performers paraded through the streets to drum up business. Later the parade might only circle the interior of the performance area, giving the audience a taste of what was to come.

Answer: Cannon

...while you (CAN NON)-ticket...

The usual ammunition for a circus cannon was a human cannonball, a daring helmeted performer who would seem to be catapulted from a cannon into a net some distance away. Whether truth or illusion is something for the circus insider to know.

Answer: Barnum

...at the (BAR NUM)erous...

P.T. Barnum was a big name in the circus world in the nineteenth century and his name lived on after his death in 1891 in the name of the circus he founded: Barnum and Bailey, which later amalgamated with Ringling Brothers. The Broadway musical "Barnum" was based on his life.