king's English

American  

noun

1. standard, educated, or correct English speech or usage, especially of England.

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King's English British  

noun

1. (esp when the British sovereign is male) standard Southern British English

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Etymology

Origin of king's English

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

After the first verse, Alanis included a footnote in the musical book stating, “I get it when people mock these lyrics. The real irony of all time for me is that I’m usually the grammar police. I’m usually the one going, ‘Ah, that’s not the King’s English.’”

From Salon

The King's English and Cockney are no longer common dialects among young people in the South East of England, according to a new study.

From BBC

In recent years, Cockney and the King's English were spoken by people of all ages, but now 49% of the participants spoke in a standard southern British English accent, which the study said was a modern, updated version of received pronunciation.

From BBC

We don't get a pass because we speak the King's English well or don't have one mark on a criminal record between us or any of the other Black respectability measurements we're constantly expected to stay ahead of.

From Salon

As an added pleasure, Ralph gives Herriot a fine Glasgow accent, which the books, written in the King’s English, did not, and Diana Rigg puts in one last wonderful performance as the iconic Mrs. Pumphrey, whose lavish attention to her over-pampered Pekingese provides sharp contrast with the mucky reality of farm life, where an ailing animal can ruin the family fortune.

From Los Angeles Times