think tank

think tank

An organization or group of people working to perform research and propose solutions and courses of action to another organization or group, often political parties, government bodies, or the military. President Ronald Reagan based many of his policies on the results of a study done by the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank.
See also: tank, think
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

think tank

A group or organization dedicated to problem-solving and research, especially in such areas as technology, social or political strategy, and the military. For example, The congressional leaders rely too heavily on that conservative think tank. This term originated about 1900 as a facetious colloquialism for brain and was given its new meaning about 1950.
See also: tank, think
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

think-tank

n. a place where great minds are assembled to try to think up solutions to problems or to envision the future. She spent a few months in a California think-tank, then came back to teach.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • think-tank
  • ginger group
  • member
  • paid-up member (of something)
  • card-carrying member
  • a card-carrying member (of something)
  • a paid-up member, etc.
  • be a (fully) paid-up member of something
  • be a card-carrying member (of something)
  • fully
References in periodicals archive
The think tank also bemoans the lack of concrete action by the Commission when it comes to improving the comparability of European economic data on sport.
SPORT : THINK TANK BEMOANS LACK OF CONCRETE COMMISSION ACTION
If you are interested in participating in or speaking at a CIO Think Tank, contact Rob Simms, VP Business Development and Event Management, CDM Media at rob.simms@cdmmedia.com or 808-694-3684.
CIO Think Tank to Bring Together Senior IT Leaders from the Media & Entertainment Industry
"Think tanks have a pivotal role to play in supporting states to respond to a challenging policy environment - [they] can help connect the dots between state institutions and the resources of civil society ...
Conference aims at connecting African think tanks
It was another wonderful moment for the think-tankers, with headlines aplenty for Reform - the golden rule of a think tank report being the more outlandish it is the more attention it will get.
Think for a minute ... you could think for a living
Think tanks do play an important role in our democracy, arming those who make our economic and political decisions with new ideas and the evidence to support their goals.
Policy wonks beware: If think tanks don't fix their media strategy, they'll be on the road to irrelevance
Consumer spending, the think tank said, will be fueled by low inflation and the 'sustained inflow of remittances' from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
FMIC and UAandP cut growth forecast on budget woes
Speaking on the occasion, SDPI Board of Governors chairperson and former ambassadorShafqat Kakakhelsaid it was a matter of pride that SDPI has continuously been ranked among the top 100 think tanks in the world and top 20 in South East Asia and the Pacific.
SDPI ranked country's top think tank
And since the barbaric murder of Saudi journalist last October, many other Washington-based think tanks have come under pressure to stop accepting donations from Saudi Arabia.
The think-tank dilemma
PERPI, which is inspired by similar international energy think tanks hosted by top American universities, will be tasked with conducting multidisciplinary energy research, incubating and developing cutting edge technologies, and serving as the sparring partner for the government during the energy policy-making process.
Senate OKs creation of energy think tank
Mr Franklin Oduro, the Deputy Executive Director of the organization, who touched on the reasons for honouring the brains behind the Think tank, said that the recognition was in the right direction because the Center had attained an enviable position as a leading think-tank in democracy and good governance in the country and beyond, due to the immense contributions by these founding fathers.
Think-Tanks Are Gaining Grounds In Ghana -CDD-GHANA
The combined company will be privately held and operate under the Think Tank brand.
Think Tank Photo, MindShift Gear Merge to Expand Product Suite for Photographers
Now in its third round, the AJPH Think Tank consists of six master's or doctoral students who meet in person twice a year at APHA's headquarters and collaborate remotely for the remainder of the year.
Student-led think tank shapes APHA's American Journal of Public Health
As an exchange of international think tanks held before the SCO Qingdao Summit, the Forum aims to establish a stable exchange and cooperation mechanism for the SCO economic think tanks and a think tank alliance platform for the sustained and healthy development of regional economic cooperation.
SCO economic think tank alliance established in Beijing
The think tank accused the South Korean government of attempting to hurt its academic freedom.
Korea not considering replacement think tank after USKI's closure
The Arabian Gulf Center for Iranian Studies has been ranked the first top think tank in Saudi Arabia for regional studies.
Arabian Gulf Center for Iranian Studies named first top think tank in Saudi Arabia