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Buggins's turn. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Earliest recorded use is by Admiral Fisher, later First Sea Lord, in a 1901 letter.
'Buggins' is a humorous invented surname, suggestive of a man of mediocre ability.
Noun
Buggins's turn
- (idiomatic, British) A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.
- He will be appointed on the principle of Buggins's turn.
- 1919, Memories, John Fisher (reprinting a 1917 letter to him from an unnamed Privy Councillor)
- I remembered your old saying "Some day the Empire will go down because it is Buggins's turn."'