seal of approval

1. An endorsement of something or someone, as in Our candidate doesn't have the governor's seal of approval, or The new management gave the old refund policy their seal of approval. This idiom was used, and perhaps invented, as an advertising gimmick of Good Housekeeping Magazine, which gave its so-called “seal of approval” to products it endorsed; the products' packaging in turn bore a small emblem attesting to this endorsement. The noun seal here is used in the same sense as in set one's seal on.

Example Sentences

One question: Did the federal government’s seal of approval for Tricolor cause investors to ignore hazard lights?

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The Sundance seal of approval kicks open countless doors to get distribution for independent cinema, A-List celebrities or not.

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World Rugby's seal of approval comes with benefits; its absence will be a question mark for those pondering whether to take up an R360 offer, either as a player or host city.

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He is said to have been a driving force behind the deal for Kudus, while the club's efforts to sign Savinho from Manchester City are described as having Frank's seal of approval.

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His portrayal of the world's luckiest archaeologist even got the seal of approval from original Indy Harrison Ford.

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Related Words

• advocacy 
• affirmation 
• approval 
• backing 
• commercial 
• confirmation 
• favor 
• permission 
• ratification 
• recommendation 
• signature