英语词汇downing street的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

Downing Street; Downing College; a George Downing. Like its French counterpart, the Quai d’Orsay, England’s No. 10 Downing Street is another famous diplomatic address de- riving from a family name. Downing Street is used figuratively to mean the British foreign office or government in power, No. 10 Downing Street having been the official residence of almost all British prime ministers since George II gave the house to Sir Robert Walpole for that purpose in 1735. The street in London, which also contains the British foreign and colonial offices, is named for soldier and diplomat Sir George Downing (ca. 1624–84). Downing, a nephew of Massachusetts’s gover- nor John Winthrop, was graduated in the first class at Harvard, but returned to England, where he performed the difficult trick of serving under both Cromwell and then Charles II. A talented but selfish man, his character is said to have been “marked by treachery, servitude, and ingratitude.” In his own time a George Downing was proverbial for “a false man who betrayed his trust.” Downing College, Cambridge, derived its name later from his generous grandson, but Downing Street was on the king’s property and named for the statesman dur- ing Charles II’s reign. The facade of No. 10 Downing is the same as it was in 1735. Who’s at No. 11? The Chancellor of the Exchequer. The government whip’s office is No. 12. See d’orsay pump.

词汇	downing street
词源	Downing Street; Downing College; a George Downing. Like its French counterpart, the Quai d’Orsay, England’s No. 10 Downing Street is another famous diplomatic address de- riving from a family name. Downing Street is used figuratively to mean the British foreign office or government in power, No. 10 Downing Street having been the official residence of almost all British prime ministers since George II gave the house to Sir Robert Walpole for that purpose in 1735. The street in London, which also contains the British foreign and colonial offices, is named for soldier and diplomat Sir George Downing (ca. 1624–84). Downing, a nephew of Massachusetts’s gover- nor John Winthrop, was graduated in the first class at Harvard, but returned to England, where he performed the difficult trick of serving under both Cromwell and then Charles II. A talented but selfish man, his character is said to have been “marked by treachery, servitude, and ingratitude.” In his own time a George Downing was proverbial for “a false man who betrayed his trust.” Downing College, Cambridge, derived its name later from his generous grandson, but Downing Street was on the king’s property and named for the statesman dur- ing Charles II’s reign. The facade of No. 10 Downing is the same as it was in 1735. Who’s at No. 11? The Chancellor of the Exchequer. The government whip’s office is No. 12. See d’orsay pump.
随便看	gilbertian gilderoy-s kite gild the lily gillie suit gimlet gimme a dope gimmie gin and it gin and tonic gingham ginnie mae gin rickey ginseng gioconda smile giotto-s o gi party gippy tummy giraffe gird one-s loins girl girl friday gismo give a damn give a deaf ear give a leg up