queen's English

noun

1. king's English.

queen's English

noun

1. (when the British sovereign is female) standard Southern British English

Word History and Origins

Origin of queen's English¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Locke — with his glossy hair falling past his shoulders, Queen’s English and predilection for wearing designer shirts open to the sternum — worried that he might be depicted as garish, affluent, out of touch with the common man.

From New York Times

Sarah Thompson, the chef’s wife, is the smile in the dining room, the cheerleader behind the restaurant’s daily “natty hour” featuring natural wines and the other half of what makes Queen’s English such a personal, pleasurable experience.

From Washington Post

Queen’s English, which tosses its stir-fried noodles with fresh tofu, sour cabbage and chicken liver, whets Washington appetites for the trend.

From Washington Post

There’s no cozier facade in Columbia Heights than the jade-colored front of Queen’s English, dressed with gliders and watched over by a canine-loving staff.

From Washington Post

Across Britain, working-class people are the most likely to speak with accents that mark out where they are from and are the furthest removed from Queen's English.

From Salon