bums on seats

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiominformalBritish

   The number of people who pay to attend a show, match, or event; used to talk about filling a venue.

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable idea, often after verbs like get, put, or attract: the show got bums on seats.

   Patterns

   • get bums on seats
   • put bums on seats
   • attract bums on seats

   The new comedy has really put bums on seats at the local theater.

   Promoters care about bums on seats more than good reviews.

   Cheap tickets are one way to get bums on seats on a rainy Monday.

2. 2phrasebefore a nouninformalBritish

   Used to describe something whose main purpose is to attract a paying audience rather than to be good.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun as a modifier, as in a bums-on-seats strategy.

   Patterns

   • a bums-on-seats approach
   • a bums-on-seats mentality

   Critics called it a bums-on-seats decision rather than an artistic one.

   The theater's bums-on-seats policy means safe, popular shows all season.

Common combinations

get bums on seats

A famous guest star will get bums on seats.

put bums on seats

Good marketing puts bums on seats.

bums on seats mentality

The bums on seats mentality can hurt small experimental plays.

care about bums on seats

The owners care about bums on seats, not awards.

Synonyms and how they differ

attendance

Neutral and countable; use it in reports, while 'bums on seats' is informal and focuses on paying customers.

audience numbers

More factual and neutral; 'bums on seats' sounds blunter and more commercial.

turnout

Often used for elections and meetings rather than paid entertainment.

Commonly confused: bums on seats or bums on seats vs. seat warmers?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “bums on seats”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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