The Queen’s English


What's the meaning of the phrase 'The Queen's English'?

The language of the United Kingdom.

What's the origin of the phrase 'The Queen's English'?

Shakespeare used the phrase in The Merry Wives of Windsor, 1600, but it was in common use before that. ‘The King’s English’ is used when the United Kingdom has a king.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.