Definition of Heath Robinson in English:
Heath Robinson
adjectivehiːθ ˈrɒbɪns(ə)n
British Ingeniously or ridiculously over-complicated in design or construction.
a vast Heath Robinson mechanism
Example sentencesExamples
- Mounted on a supermarket trolley is a Heath Robinson device.
- The organisation has a Heath Robinson scheme involving a trolley on wheels with a grease trap.
- Standing outside (now with cold feet), watching ‘her’ (as Donald refers to the wheel) crank into action as the sluice gates let in water from the Essett burn, there was a Heath Robinson moment.
- There in Brighton is a Heath Robinson contraption that defies the laws of physics.
- The Liberal Democratic Party is a Heath Robinson contraption which defies the Laws of physics.
Origin
Early 20th century: named after W. Heath Robinson (see Robinson, Heath).