Heath Robinson
Britishadjective
Etymology
Origin of Heath Robinson
C20: named after William Heath Robinson (1872–1944), British cartoonist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Biden held a large White House bill-signing ceremony and gave the pen to the young daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died of cancer and for whom the legislation is named.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2023
Danielle Robinson recalled how her husband’s return home from Iraq turned from a relief to “the biggest nightmare of our lives” after Heath Robinson was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 lung cancer 10 years later.
From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2022
The president was joined at the signing ceremony by the surviving wife and daughter of the bill’s namesake, Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson.
From Washington Times • Aug. 10, 2022
As a result, the term "Heath Robinson contraption" gained dictionary recognition from about 1912 for anything considered both ingenious and utterly impracticable.
From BBC • May 21, 2022
Heath Robinson because he thinks humour is decadent, Horatio Bottomley to advertise "John Bull," and the Archbishop to cause a religious revival.
From Letters from France by Mack, Isaac Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
