1. (

• musical_chairs ,
• going_to_Jerusalem

) a child's game in which players march to music around a group of chairs that contains one chair less than the number of players; when the music abruptly stops the players scramble to sit and the player who does not find a chair is eliminated; then a chair is removed and the march resumes until only the winner is seated ;

2. (

• musical_chairs ,

) a rearrangement that has no practical effect or significance; "the company is looking for stability after years of musical chairs with directors"; "shareholders don't want the company playing musical chairs with their investment" ;