E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Circumlocu’tion Office.
A term applied in ridicule to our public offices, because each person tries to shuffle off every act to some one lse; and before anything is done it has to pass through so many departments, that every fly is crushed on a wheel. The term was invented by Charles Dickens, and appears in Little Dorrit.
lse; and before anything is done it has to pass through so many departments, that every fly is crushed on a wheel. The term was invented by Charles Dickens, and appears in Little Dorrit.
