marmalade dropper

English

Etymology

Suggesting the idea of an astonished person dropping marmalade at the breakfast table while reading or hearing the news.

Noun

marmalade dropper (plural marmalade droppers)

  1. (British, informal) Astonishing information, especially something learned from the news media.
  2. (British, informal) A publicity stunt; something shocking intended to receive news coverage.
    • 2023 'The return of David Cameron: What is going on?', BBC News.
      "Just because something is a marmalade dropper, doesn't make it a good idea."
    • 2025 October 31, “Hackwatch”, in Private Eye, number 1661, page 10:
      How to get wall-to-wall coverage for your new album even if your name is not Taylor Swift: […] Allow the BBC Today programme to deliver a proper marmalade-dropper: "Open marriage, infidelity, vasectomies, sex toys, I mean every track has got something in it."

Synonyms

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