Buggins's turn

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

Buggins's turn (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, British) 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.

[edit] Etymology

Earliest recorded use is by Admiral Fisher, later First Sea Lord, in a 1901 letter. In a 1917 letter, reprinted in his Memories (1919), an (unnamed) Privy Councillor wrote to Fisher: 'I remembered your old saying "Some day the Empire will go down because it is Buggins's turn."' ^[1]

• Notes:

1. ^ facsimile of quote on archive.org