Sekirov Dictionary

tickle the ivories

UK /ˌtikl̩ ðiː ˈaɪv(ə)ɹiz/US /ˌtik(ə)l ði ˈaɪv(ə)ɹiz/

verb1

•
(informal) To play a piano or other keyboard instrument.
- […] Charles Jarvis, the Philadelphia pianist, […] tickled the ivories with old time unction and gave some of the audience the impression that Philadelphia was really a musical city. — 1890

forms

tickled the ivories · tickling the ivories · tickles the ivories

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