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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

ˈbʌɡɪnzɪnz ˈtɝnDocumented since 1900s1900sSilenthistorical171 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
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Born ~1901 · no dated citations yet
1901BornToday, 2026

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UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(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'''.
Origin: 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. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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