jump on the bandwagon

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“I don’t think we’re anything like the E Street Band…There [were] a lot of guys jumping on that bandwagon. I didn’t do that.”

Singer Jon Bon Jovi, talking about his musical roots

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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do the same thing as everyone else; follow what most people do

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Before cars became popular and widely used, wagons were a common way to transport people and animals. People moved across countries in wagons pulled by horses, and they transported their belongings the same way.

Performers had to travel by wagon, too. One of the more popular forms of entertainment, the circus, had special wagons for the animals and other wagons for the people. There was room for the lions, room for the clowns, and room for the circus band. Circuses were so fun, in fact, that many people dreamed of running away and joining the circus. They wanted to jump on the bandwagon.

Today, when people talk about jumping on the bandwagon, they’re likely not talking about becoming part of the circus. Maybe they want to jump on the bandwagon and lose weight with the new diet. Or they want to jump on the bandwagon of another way to get rich quick. Whatever the bandwagon is, people jump on it because they want to be part of it.

When Jon Bon Jovi first started playing music professionally, he said he didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon of other groups that were popular. He wanted to have his own sound and be his own person.

When have you jumped on a bandwagon? How important are popular trends?

Examples

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“Many people say Beautiful Mind is the best movie this year. I liked it, but I’m not going to jump on the bandwagon. I thought Lord of the Rings was much better.”

“I’m giving up bread. I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon for low-carb diets.”

“If this politician is going to win the election, he’ll need a lot more people to jump on the bandwagon and vote for him!”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

	join to something because it is fashionable by Mackolino
	To join a trend. by shanamusic
	To follow a fashion by Manu4
	to support something popular by yeahlivia
	to start doing or saying something that a lot of people are already doing or saying. by Hazelgirl
	join a popular activity/campaign by inventive2

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