What is the peanut gallery?

The peanut gallery is an informal term for the audience at a show, especially one that is not particularly distinguished or sophisticated. The term dates back to the early 20th century and is thought to have originated in vaudeville, where the cheapest seats in the house were located in the back and were often filled with people who would heckle the performers.

The peanut gallery is analogous to the nosebleeds, another informal term for the cheap seats at a sports or entertainment venue. These seats are often located high up in the stadium or arena, offering a limited and distant view of the event below.

People in the peanut gallery are often seen as being less knowledgeable or experienced about the subject matter than those in other parts of the audience. They may be more likely to make critical or negative comments, as they are further removed from the action and may not have as much respect for the performers.