T-learning # Idiom
Speak Like a Native

turkeys voting for Christmas

Choose the correct definition a, b or c.

a) following fashion trends

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

b) preparing Christmas very eagerly

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

c) doing something against your best interests

Well done ! That’s the right answer.

If people are like turkeys voting for Christmas, they choose to accept a situation which will have very bad results for them, they act in a way that is harmful to their own interests.

The phrase originated in the UK and is essentially used by British people.

French translation

scier la branche sur laquelle on est assis, se jeter dans la gueule du loup, donner le bâton pour se faire battre

How NOT to translate into French : *les dindes votent pour Noël

...................................................

Examples in context

Turkeys Voting For Christmas

Greenwashing within the meetings industry

Are digital events the driving force behind the meetings industry’s green transformation ? There have been discussions advocating that all types of digital events are crucial in decarbonising the meetings industry. Are digital events completely carbon-neutral, though ? Even though their carbon footprint is substantially smaller in comparison with in-person events, they are far from carbon-neutral.

Kongres, 6 June 2022

............

Turkeys voting for Christmas is becoming ‘increasingly real’

"Nobody to kill the turkey, nobody to pack the turkey, nobody to drive the turkey, no CO2 to store the turkey, no gas to cook the bloody turkey !"

Recent gas shortages have added credence to the saying that Brexit was like turkeys voting for Christmas, a Twitter user has pointed out.

CF Fertilisers suspended production at plants in Teesside and Cheshire on the back of soaring energy costs as global gas prices spiked.

The company produces around 60 per cent of the UK’s CO2, used primarily by the food sector, leading to concerns that there may be a winter shortage of poultry, causing Christmas to be ruined.

The London Economic, 22 Sept. 2021

...................................................

Everyday usage

Teachers agreeing to even larger class sizes would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.


Missed last week’s phrase ? Catch up here