Jack-in-office

Quick meaning: Jack-in-office is a noun meaning (derogatory) A self-important but minor official.

Meaning

(derogatory) A self-important but minor official.

Example Sentences

For ordinary purposes I generally describe myself as a rent-collector, but that is because official Jacks-in-office seem to have a morbid suspicion of anyone who is obviously not a millionaire calling himself independent.

But a man gifted with original thoughts and the power of expressing them, appears to be regarded by everyone in authority as much worse than the worst criminal, and all the 'jacks-in-office' unite to kick him to death if they can.

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.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include jackass, jackoff, understrapper, jobsworth, jobster, jackarse.

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