clown car

noun7

1. •
   The undersized car used in a circus clown car routine.

   • Tiny chugging clown cars drive into the arena, and clown after clown after clown climbs out, enough to fill a bus. — 1962
2. •
   A car or small enclosed space with too many people or things in it.

   • At the grocery store, a clown car as everyone unfolds, gets out, stretches legs and goes inside, stopping a moment in appreciation of air conditioning. — 2007
3. •
   (disapproving, figurative) Any process with a comically large number of participants, especially participants who themselves are comical or ridiculous.

   • clown-car primaries
4. •
   A car for clowns, especially the car of a circus train that carries the clowns.

   • I lost complete track of Frank Sinatra and while I was hunting for him I saw a fellow with my tramp makeup on, waiting to get into the clown car. — 1956
5. •
   A circus clown routine in which an implausibly large number of clowns climb into or out of a small car.

   • Kids of all ages have been applauding the clown car trick for more than 60 years, ever since it was first introduced in 1950 by master clown Otto Griebling at the Cole Brothers Circus. — 2012
6. •
   (disapproving) A very small car.

   • The two-stroke-engine powered, built-with-communist-pride Trabant — a very small, two-door, clown car that resembles a shrunken '55 Chevy — does not particularly excite me. — 2000
7. •
   (disapproving) A car that looks gaudy or otherwise ridiculous.

   • Through our parade fees we have purchased a 1938 LaSalle hearse (which we painted red and yellow) and our own public address system, which is mounted on our clown car (hearse). — 1956