jack-in-office

English

Alternative forms
  • jack in office

Noun

jack-in-office (plural jacks-in-office)

  1. (derogatory) A self-important but minor official.
    • 1967, C. P. Snow, foreword to A Mathematician's Apology, G. H. Hardy, 1948.
      Chapel at Trinity was compulsory. Hardy told the Dean, [...], that he could not conscientiously attend. The Dean, who must have been a jack-in-office, insisted that Hardy should write to his parents and tell them so.

Synonyms
  • jack guardant (archaic), petty functionary

Hypernyms
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