Churchillian Drift

Churchillian Drift

The phenomenon by which a saying or axiom is misattributed, typically to a more prominent person (including, but not limited to, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill). Yes, but it's Churchillian Drift because Churchill didn't actually say that. A: "You know that Robert Frost didn't actually say that, right?" B: "Aw man. You mean Churchillian Drift got me again?"
See also: drift
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • drift
  • any (one) worth (one's) salt
  • keel over
  • let them eat cake
  • measure twice and cut once
  • measure twice, cut once
  • Murphy's law
  • young man
References in periodicals archive
The quote, which appears with a picture of Churchill and the words "CHURCHILL ON THE LEFTWING(sic)" was tweeted by Abbott on his personal account, along with the comment: "Some insights are timeless." David Freeman, director of publications at the International Churchill Society, called the meme a classic example of "Churchillian drift," which he described as quotes erroneously attributed to Churchill in the pursuit of adding intellectual heft.
NOT REAL NEWS A look at what didn't happen this week