pomp and circumstance

pomp and circumstance

Celebration accompanied by traditional formalities and ceremony. Please, there's no need for all this pomp and circumstance. I'm just an ordinary guest who has come to enjoy the performance like everyone else. In the wake of the tragedy, the Queen's trip was not accompanied by the usual pomp and circumstance.
See also: and, circumstance, pomp
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pomp and circumstance

the ceremonial formality surrounding a public event.
The expression originates in Shakespeare's Othello: ‘Farewell…the royal banner, and all quality, pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war’; but its modern currency owes much to its use as the title of a set of orchestral marches ( 1901 ) by Sir Edward Elgar .
See also: and, circumstance, pomp
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pomp and ˈcircumstance

formal and impressive ceremony: The Prince was welcomed with warmth, but not with all the pomp and circumstance he was used to.This comes from Shakespeare’s play Othello and refers to the impressive clothes, decorations, music, etc. that are part of an official ceremony.
See also: and, circumstance, pomp
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a sense of occasion
  • occasion
  • stand on ceremony
  • stand on ceremony, to
  • do sit down
  • fuss and feathers
  • in the interest of (something)
  • in the interest of something
  • talk turkey
  • talk turkey, to
References in classic literature
"Here have I been persuading Herr Liesecke to stop for POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, and you are undoing all my work.
Moved by a common impulse, they rose to their feet and fled from POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
Bumble had quite dignity enough for two; supposing even that the stranger had been more familiar: so he drank his gin-and-water in silence, and read the paper with great show of pomp and circumstance.
Such is the general picture of the free trapper's wife, given by Captain Bonneville; how far it applied in its details to the one in question does not altogether appear, though it would seem from the outset of her connubial career, that she was ready to avail herself of all the pomp and circumstance of her new condition.
George's is a smaller venue, it is expected that Harry, who is currently fifth in line for the throne, is still going to have a wedding with plenty of pomp and circumstance, albeit on a smaller scale.
Which English composer wrote the Pomp and Circumstance Marches?
On Saturday, April 23, the church is hosting Hepworth Band in a St George's Day concert of English music, including Nimrod, The Lord Chord, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance March.
NNA - Another Hezbollah fighter slain in last Thursday's Burj Brajneh twin bombing, has been laid to rest at his southern Lebanese home village of Majdel-Silem in full party pomp and circumstance, NNA field reporters said today.
MUSIC Time for some pomp and circumstance, as Katie Derham (above centre) introduces more rousing classical performances from the Royal Albert Hall.
For a sport that demands all the pomp and circumstance of gladiatorial battle, this state-of-the-art facility --the biggest of its kind on the company's Bristol, Conn., campus --will allow such shows as "NFL Insiders," "NFL Live," "NFL Primetime" and "Monday Night Countdown" to stay competitive in the bigger, louder, glitzier sweepstakes of pro football.
The Last Night at the Proms Special will be a night of reflection, rousing tunes, flag-waving, whistle-blowing and pomp and circumstance, with international singers John Hudson and Anna Clare Monk performing songs from both periods and traditional, film and classical music such as Schindler's List, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square and Rule Britannia also part of the show.
IT'S that time of the year to dig out your Union Flags and get bobbing to Pomp and Circumstance. Wirral Symphony Orchestra presents Last Night of the Proms at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton this Sunday.
Due to its role as one of the most frequently used pieces of ceremonial music in the brass quintet repertoire, new arrangements of Pomp and Circumstance are always welcome.
The Royal Ballet Sinfonia will perform music highlights from celebrated composers, including Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance and new choreography to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, specially created for this performance by company dancer Ruth Brill.
There's plenty of pomp and circumstance on offer, as Katie Derham (right) presents coverage of the classical music event from the Royal Albert Hall, starring Nigel Kennedy.