Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
adj
Of images, that match words too closely or in an overly literal manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, humorous
Topics: broadcasting, media, television
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
The fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, now used as a sinecure or title for a minister without portfolio.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Keeper of the Privy Seal, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the senior cabinet minister in the British Cabinet who has no official duties
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cabinet minister
History
From a sketch on the 1966-67 British satire show The Frost Report, poking fun at the television broadcasting practice of displaying images on screen to accompany spoken monologues. In the sketch, the words Lord Privy Seal in a news report are illustrated with a photo of a lord, photo of a privy (outhouse), and photo of a seal (pinniped) balancing a ball on its nose.
