riddle wrapped in an enigma

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

A form of Winston Churchill's quotation, made in a radio broadcast in October 1939.[1][2]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (file)

Noun[edit]

riddle wrapped in an enigma

  1. (idiomatic) Something very mysterious and hidden.

References[edit]

  1. ^ “The meaning and origin of the expression: A riddle wrapped up in an enigma”, in The Phrase Finder[1], phrases.org.uk, 2009 March 17, retrieved 13 March 2017
  2. ^ Winston Churchill (actor) (1939 October 1), The Russian Enigma[2] (BBC Broadcast), London:I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.