spin doctor

spin doctor

One who manipulates information, often by attempting to present negative news as being somehow positive. The campaign's spin doctors somehow made the candidate's poor performance in the debate look like a sign that he was the more relatable candidate.
See also: doctor, spin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

spin doctor

someone who gives a twisted or deviously deceptive version of an event. (Usually in the context of manipulating the news for political reasons.) Things were going bad for the candidate, so he got himself a new spin doctor. A good spin doctor could have made the incident appear far less damaging.
See also: doctor, spin
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

spin doctor

An individual charged with getting others to interpret a statement or event from a particular viewpoint, as in Charlie is the governor's spin doctor. This term, born about 1980 along with spin control, uses doctor in the colloquial sense of "one who repairs something."
See also: doctor, spin
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

spin doctor

n. someone who provides an interpretation of news or an event in a way that makes the news or event work to the advantage of the entity employing the spin doctor. (Usually in political contexts in reference to manipulating the news.) Things were going bad for the president, so he got himself a new spin doctor.
See also: doctor, spin
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • repay (one) for (something)
  • repay for
  • any press is good press
  • plunge from
  • plunge from (something)
  • of course
  • spin up
  • surprise, surprise
  • the light of day
  • see the light of day
References in periodicals archive
Mas en concreto, Eric Louw (2005: 156, 297) senala que la expresion "spin doctor" fue utilizada por primera vez el 21 de octubre de 1984 en un editorial de The New York Times para referirse a las actividades del equipo de comunicacion de Ronald Reagan.
El concepto de 'Spin Doctoring': tejer la red en la era de la informacion
* SPIN DOCTOR PACKED FULL OF EXPLETIVES: Malcolm (Peter Capaldi) terrifies poor Toby (Chris Addison, right) while (below) Karen (Mimi Kennedy) and General Miller (James Gandolfini) make small talk
Spin out of control; Armando swears the film is just perfectly timed to the current political fallout: Tim Oglethorpe reports:
Her previous spin doctor, former Sunday Mail political editor Brian Lironi, quit after just six weeks.
You silly blogger; SPIN DOCTOR No.3 IN ATTACK ON WENDY
"The public don't trust spin doctors because they have become synonymous with lying," he says.
Don't get into a spin over PR
A Clerk is a multipurpose staff person who works directly for a Titan, Caseworker, or Spin Doctor. Each of the dozen or so Clerks does not have any discretionary authority or specific portfolio aside from the assignments delegated by the boss.
Transition admission
Famous spin doctors have included Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair's spin doctor), former News of the World editor Andy Coulson (a former SPAD who worked for David Cameron) and Jo Moore (who was reported to have described 9/11 as "a good day to bury bad news").
JUST WHAT THE SPIN DOCTOR ORDERED; Public Bill for political advisers soars by PS1m
THIS was the moment Joey Barton was struck on the head with a bottle - and then praised by a former government spin doctor.
'BOTTLED' JOEY KEEPS HIS COOL
SCOTTISH Labour are in chaos after a top spin doctor was suspended amid infighting.
LABOUR AXE TURF WAR SPIN DOCTOR; Key man suspended over infighting
THE REGION'S NHS is paying a spin doctor more than an expert in charge of cancer screening.
NHS SPIN DOCTORS PAID 5 TIMES NURSE'S SALARY
Mr Cameron, once a spin doctor himself, came to power insisting he would not twist the news in the way he claimed New Labour had done.
Cameron cuts are spinning out of control
The studio guest was spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
Spin on Eurovision; YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
THE former spin doctor to Chancellor Gordon Brown delivers his lowdown on being an Englishman in Scotland during the World Cup.
Football: Cross words about flags; WORLD CUP OPENER IS MARRED BY THE DRUNK YOBS WHO STAYED AT HOME
Good advice doesn't come cheap, but pounds 23,000 for one consultant spin doctor has created a stink in the civic centre.
Killing inquiry is now needed
It has sent the bill soaring from PS4.5million in 2011, with Mr Cameron's spin doctor Craig Oliver and chief of staff Ed Llewellyn the best paid.
Record PS7m tab for Cam and Clegg's spin doctors
the kind person daughter''s bag epi-pens in on Saturday, not leave your was greatly like to thank Spencer, Next, Look for I have just read the ECHO story 'PS90k Salary for city spin doctor'.
Austerity? It's a joke; YouSay Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk