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modest proposal

noun

Etymology

From Jonathan Swift's 1729 satire A Modest Proposal, which suggested cannibalism as a solution to Irish poverty.

  1. derived from poverty

Definitions

  1. An idea which is especially extreme, unorthodox or distasteful, often put forward in jest.

    • I therefore have a modest proposal aimed at rectifying this situation: let's declare war!
    • "I have a modest proposal," Alabaster said. "We need two new examples to demonstrate how awesome nuclear war is, so it will sober up politicians, military men and statesmen, not only here but in the Soviet Union."

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see modest, proposal.

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA