178．给楼座上的观众演出

［词语］to play to the gallery

［含义］迎合大众；迎合低级趣味；哗众取宠

［趣释］【物事喻指】在17世纪，欧洲剧院在后排搭起很高的看台，这一区域叫顶层楼座（gallery），票价比较低，供普通平民百姓观看，这里的观众统称为“顶层楼座的观众”（the gallery）。楼座上的观众大多数收入低，文化水平和欣赏能力都偏低，只能接受大众化的节目。后来，人们就用“给楼座上的观众演出”（to play to the gallery）来喻指迎合大众、迎合低级趣味、哗众取宠。还由这一成语引申出名词gallery play，意为“迎合观众趣味的表演”“哗众取宠”“蛊惑宣传”。

［运用］Motion pictures, though still playing mainly to the gallery, have taken their place as a significant art form． 电影虽然主要还是迎合大众的口味来拍摄的，但已经成为一种重要的艺术形式。

He didn't mean to hurt you by what he said. It is simply that he cannot resist playing to the gallery． 他说这话并不是存心要伤害你，他不过是控制不住自己，要哗众取宠罢了。

I put forward my side of the argument as clearly and exactly as I could, but my opponent played the gallery shamelessly and soon had the support of the crowd． 我尽量清楚、准确地说明我的观点，但对方却厚颜无耻地讨好观众，很快就得到他们的支持。