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- A -

A26 MCS
License plate number of Jim Hacker's car (a Jaguar) in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
Aerospace Systems Contract
Contract with the United States that is mentioned in the YM episode Open Government. The success of this contract is very important to the PM, but then Jim Hacker rocks the Anglo-American boat. Also known as the Anglo-American Defence Trade Agreement.
 
Anglo-American Defence Trade Agreement
See Aerospace Systems Contract.
 
Atomic Power Station Programme
Mentioned by Sir Humphrey in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard as an example of government money wasted.
 
Axis Powers
Mentioned by Jim Hacker in the YM episode The Middle-Class Rip-Off. In this episode he points out that the Royal Opera House is not preserving Britain's cultural heritage, but the cultural heritage of the Axis Powers (Italy and Germany), by staging operas by Mozart, Wagner, Pucinni and Verdi. The term stems from World War II, where Japan was also included into the Axis Powers.
 
Ayatollah
Islamic leader. Sir Humphrey mentions that Alexander Jameson is sort of an ayatollah in the YPM episode A Conflict of Interest.
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- B -

Band of the Royal Marines
Music band mentioned in the YPM episode A Diplomatic Incident. They have to play all the national anthems of the foreign leaders that arrive for the former PM's funeral.
 
BBC
Abbreviation for British Broadcasting Corporation.
 
BCC
Abbreviation for British Chemical Corporation.
 
Belle de Jour
French movie from 1967 starring Catherine Deneuve that Annie Hacker wanted to see during her and her husband's stay in Kingsbury Down. Their bodyguards however did not like a foreign movie and so they all went to see Moonraker. Referred to in the YM episode The Death List.
 
Bells
Whisky brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception.
 
Benefactor's Dinner
See High Table Dinner.
 
Benjy
Name of the dog that plays a very prominent role in the YPM episode One of Us. Benjy got lost on the army's artillery shell testing range at Salisbury Plain. He had to be rescued by a massive army operation, authorized by Jim Hacker.
 
BES
Abbreviation for British Electronic Systems Ltd., mentioned in the YM episode The Moral Dimension.
 
Big Ben
London's most well known (tourist) site: the bell of the House of Commons. Mentioned in the YPM episode The Patron of the Arts.
 
Blue Streak
Rocket first developed as a military ballistic missile by HS Dynamics with engines by Rolls Royce for nuclear weapon delivery, based on the US Atlas missile.  Military development was abandoned and later the missile was offered to the European Space Research Organisation as the first stage of a satellite launching system, but was subsequently abandoned in this role. Huge development costs financed by the British government. Sir Humphrey mentions Blue Streak in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard as an example of government money wasted.
 
BMA
Abbreviation mentioned in the YPM episode The Smoke Screen. It stands for British Medical Association.
 
Bonaparte
Term used by Jim Hacker in a speech against the EEC in the YM episode Party Games. Refers to Napoleon Bonaparte, an absolute ruler in France during the late 18th century and beginning of the 19th century.
 
BP
Abbreviation for British Petroleum, mentioned in the YM episode The Moral Dimension and Party Games, and the YPM episode A Real Partnership.
 
Breeding License
Mentioned by Jim Hacker in the YPM episode The National Education Service. Sir Humphrey argues that parents are the worst people to bring up children. This should be left in the hands of the professionals: the teachers. Then Jim sarcastically proposes to have written and practical exams for getting children. If parents pass they get a breeding license.
 
Britain's National Heritage
Term to describe all British cultural and natural things that are considered to be important in preserving for future generations.
 
British Sausage
"New" name for the British sausage that Sir Humphrey, Jim Hacker and Maurice (EEC Commissioner for Agriculture) agree upon in the YM episode Party Games. At first the EEC wanted it renamed to Emulsified High-Fat Offal Tube.
 
British Theatre Awards
Annual awards for the British Theatre. Jim Hacker's attendance to the dinner presenting the British Theatre Awards is the main topic in the YPM episode The Patron of the Arts.
 
Brown Envelope Job
Action that is performed very secretively. It refers to slush money that is usually delivered in brown envelopes. Mentioned in the YM episode The Challenge regarding the plan of Dr. Cartwright on pre-set failure standards. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension brown envelopes are also supposedly used with the bribery for the British Electronic Systems contract with Qumran.
 
BTG
Abbreviation for the British Tobacco Group, which is mentioned in the YPM episode The Smoke Screen.
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- C -

Capital Punishment
Other word for the death penalty.
 
Catch-22
Situation where there is no way to win. Jim Hacker views his dependability on Sir Humphrey for information as a Catch-22 situation. He either doesn't have all the facts or he is swamped with too much information so he can't find the crucial facts. This phrase is used in the YM episode The Right to Know. Sir Humphrey uses the phrase Catch-22 subparagraph A in the YM episode Equal Opportunities, regarding the fact that it is difficult to find a married woman with three children that want to devote her life to the Civil Service.
 
CB
Honour abbreviation mentioned in the YPM episode A Real Partnership.
 
CBE
Can't Be Everywhere. Abbreviation that Bernard Woolley uses in the YM episode The Economy Drive. It is also an honour abbreviation, mentioned in the YM episode The Greasy Pole.
 
CBI
Abbreviation mentioned in the YM episode The Official Visit. It stands for Confederation of British Industry and is an organisation of employers.
 
CGSM
Civil Service code for Consignment of Geriatric Shoe Manufacturers, which means that something is total nonsense. Bernard Woolley suggest Jim Hacker to CGSM some document in the YM episode Equal Opportunities. Jim Hacker however labels it with his own code (round objects)
 
CH
Honour abbreviation. Stands for Companion of Honour. Mentioned by Bernard Woolley in the YM episode Doing the Honours.
 
Charge of the Light Brigade
Poem written by Lord Tennyson in 1854. It is referred to in the YM episode A Question of Loyalty with regards to being one of the five standard excuses (in this case one individual has made a cock-up). Part of the poem is also mentioned in an adapted version by Joe Morgan in the YM episode Jobs for the Boys. The full poem is presented with this link.
 
Château Baron Philippe Rothschild 1961
Bottle of wine from a very famous French winery. The year 1961 is supposed to be an excellent wine year. One of Jim Hacker's bodyguards orders this bottle of wine while on protective duty. This happens in the YM episode The Death List.
 
Château Lafite 1945
Famous winery and wineyear mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
CIA
Abbreviation for Central Intelligence Agency. See CIA.
 
City, The
Referring to the financial heart of Britain (London). Mentioned in the YPM episode A Conflict of Interest.
 
CMG
Honour of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that stands for Commander of the order of St. Michael and St. George. In the civil service however it is usually nicknamed as Call Me God. See also KCMG and GCMG.
 
C of E
Abbreviation used by Dr. Cartwright in the YM episode The Challenge. It stands for Church of England. In that episode Jim Hacker asks Dr. Cartwright what he is (within the DAA he means) but Dr. Cartwright doesn't understand and replies "C of E".
 
Cocotte
Name of the puppy the French President planned to give to the Queen in the YPM episode A Diplomatic Incident. Because of the British quarantine laws the Queen has to refuse the gift.
 
Corgy's
Dogs of the Queen mentioned in the YPM episode A Diplomatic Incident.
 
Commissar
Terms used by Jim Hacker in a speech against the EEC in the YM episode Party Games. He uses this term instead of Commissioner to link their behaviour to that of the Soviet Politburo.
 
Common Market
Refers to the goal of the European Economic Community to have a European trade zone without any restrictions.
 
Comprehensive Schools
School system in the United Kingdom. The failure of comprehensive schools was excused using one of the five standard excuses mentioned in the YM episode A Question of Loyalty. Also mentioned by Sir Humphrey in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard as an example of government money wasted. The reason why comprehensive schools were introduced (because the National Union of Teachers wanted it) is discussed in the YM episode The Bed of Nails. In the YPM episode The Grand Design Jim Hacker wants to give young people a comprehensive education in the army to make up for their Comprehensive Education. Also mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
 
Concorde
Passenger plane that can fly at two times the speed of sound developed by the French and British. The huge costs of development were excused by using one of the five standard excuses mentioned in the YM episode A Question of Loyalty. Also mentioned by Sir Humphrey in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard with regards to wasted government money. In the YPM episode A Diplomatic Incident Sir Humphrey remarks that the French got their way with Concorde, as it is spelled the French way: with an 'e' at the end.
 
Coronation Vows
Vows the King or Queen of England has to take. Mentioned in the YPM episode The Bishops Gambit.
 
CPRE
Abbreviation mentioned in the YM episode The Right to Know. Stands for Council for the Protection of Rural England.
 
Cruise
Type of nuclear missile mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
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- D -

DAA
Abbreviation for the Department for Administrative Affairs. Jim Hacker "leads" this department as minister in the YM episodes. See Department for Administrative Affairs.
 
Daimler
Luxurious and expensive car brand. The Mayor of Thames Marsh owns two Daimlers we learn in the YM episode The Challenge.
 
Death List
List of people up for assassination. Jim Hacker's name is on a death list of the International Freedom Army in the YM episode The Death List.
 
Degrees
Classification to indicated how outstanding or not someone graduated from University. There are first class, upper/lower seconds and third degrees. A second degree at Oxford counts as an upper second. Comparable with cum laude (first class) and summa cum laude (second) that are rewarded in other countries.
 
DES
Abbreviation that stands for Department of Education and Science.
 
DHSS
Abbreviation for the Department of Health and Social Security.
 
Dioxin
Chemical that caused the chemical disaster in Seveso, Italy in 1976. Mentioned in the YM episode The Greasy Pole.
 
Disestablishmentarianism
Term used in the YPM episode The Bishops Gambit. It refers to the believe that Church and state should be seperated and thus the Queen of England should not be head of the Church of England. Dr. Paul Harvey is said to favour this view.
 
DSO
Military honour mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design. It stands for Distinguished Service Order. It is only for military personnel and is much respected. You can get a DSO with bar, which is even better.
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- E -

EEC
Abbreviation for European Economic Community, nowadays called the European Community (EC) or European Union (EU).
 
Emulsified High-Fat Offal Tube
The proposed new name for the British sausage under the EEC's Eurosausage directive. The name change is proposed because the average British sausage contains 32% fat, 6% rind, 20% water, 5% seasoning/preservatives/colouring, and only 26% meat. Jim Hacker resents this and makes himself popular by resisting to the change in the YM episode Party Games. He uses his subsequent popularity to become PM.
 
Engima Variations
Composition by the British composer Edward Elgar. When discussing the opening music for his first television appearance as PM, Jim Hacker wants a British composer. The television producer suggests Elgar and Jim Hacker agrees. However he does not want Land of Hope and Glory. Bernard immediately suggest the Enigma Variations.
 
Environmental Health Officer
Official term for rat-catcher, as mentioned by Dr. Cartwright in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard.
 
ET
Term used by the Chief Scientific Advisor in YPM episode The Grand Design. He proposes to use the money saved by cancelling Trident on ET. Jim Hacker thinks he means extra terrestials, but the Chief Scientific Advisor is talking about Emergent Technologies (laser-guided missiles, smart bombs, etc.).
 
European Ideal
The ideal of all European countries becoming one integrated and unified territory.
 
Eurosausage
A directive from the EEC to standardise the naming of sausages, mentioned in the YM episode Party Games. This directive would mean the British sausage has to be renamed to the Emulsified High-Fat Offal Tube. Jim Hacker uses this directive to make himself popular and become PM of Great Britain.
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- F -

FA Cup
Prestigious British football Cup. In the YM episode The Middle-Class Rip-Off we learn that Jim Hacker's local football club Aston Wanderers have won the FA Cup in the past. But now they are not doing so well anymore. In fact, the club is nearly bankrupt.
 
Father of the Nation
Term used in the YPM episode The Ministerial Broadcast. The television producer that help Jim Hacker prepare for his first TV appearance as PM advises him not to attack the opposition in his speech. Instead he should appear to be the Father of the Nation.
 
FCO
Abbreviation for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, usually called the Foreign Office.
 
FDA
Abbreviation for Food and Drug Administration.
 
Fitzwalter Dinner
Dinner at Baillie College to honour a 16th century benefactor of the College. Jim Hacker went to this dinner with Sir Humphrey and Bernard Woolley in the YM episode Doing the Honours.
 
Floods of 1967
Floods that are used as an excuse for the loss of embarrassing files in the Civil Service. Sir Humphrey calls 1967 a marvelous winter in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard. Also see Statement Accompanying Embarrassing Files.
 
Flying Dutchman, The
Opera by Richard Wagner (original title: Der fliegende Holländer). In the YM episode The Middle-Class Rip-Off Sir Humphrey goes to this opera in the Royal Opera House. Jim Hacker remarks when he learns about this that this is another one of Britain's European partners.
 
Friedmanite
Someone who is a supporter of the economic theories of Friedman, that promote the government staying out of economic development. Mentioned in the YM episode The Whisky Priest.
 
FT
Abbreviation for Financial Times, a British financial newspaper.
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- G -

GCMG
Honour of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that stands for Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In the civil service however it is usually nicknamed as God Calls Me God. See also CMG and KCMG.
 
Grade II Listed Building
Building that is considered to be part of Britain's cultural heritage and is thus protected from reconstruction or demolition. If this however is planned there has to be a planning inquiry by the Department of the Environment to approve the plans. This happens in the YM episode The Middle-Class Rip-Off where Jim Hacker wants to sell off the Corn Exchange Art Gallery and use the money to save the local football club Aston Wanderers from bankruptcy.
 
Graduate Allowance
Special allowance for Civil Servants that have a University degree. The beauty of this allowance is that it doesn't show up in the basic salary calculations of civil servants. And since most of the senior civil servants work have a degree, these will get this allowance. Mentioned in the YPM episode A Real Partnership.
 
Grammar School
School form in Britain that sort of compares with the American High School.
 
Grimsby
Grimsby is a port. It is a shipping town on the East coast of England near Lincoln. Referred to in the YM episode Equal Opportunities.
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- H -

Haig
Whisky brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Bernard lets Jim Hacker know that there is a message from Mr. Haig in the communications room. Jim Hacker at first thinks it is General Haig, a US general and politician.
 
High Table Dinner
Dinner at Oxford to remember a historic benefactor. Also known as a Benefactor's dinner.
 
HMS Northwood
A British Defence establishment that is central in launching Britain's nuclear missiles. The PM sends a signal to HMS Northwood which sends back an authentication message. Once this is verified the nuclear missiles can be launched from Polaris submarines . Mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
Horizontal Jogging
Alternative term Sir Humphrey uses in the YM episode Party Games to describe sexual affairs.
 
HRRC
Abbreviation that stands for Human Resource Rich Country. In the YM episode The Official Visit Sir Humphrey explained that in the past they were called Underdeveloped Countries. But because this term was viewed as offensive they were then called Developing Countries, and later as LDC's (Less Developed Countries). In the future they will be called HRRC's, which means that they are grossly overpopulated and are begging for money.
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- I -

IBM
Abbreviation for International Business Machines.
 
Index-linked Pension
Pension of civil servants that is linked to grow with the inflation, so the value remains the same in the future. Index-linked pensions are very valuable. In the YPM episode A Real Partnership we learn that an index-linked pension of a Permanent Secretary is valued at £650,000.
 
Islamic Law
Law that stems from the Islam which forbids the drinking of alcoholic beverages. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension Jim Hacker and his delegation visiting Qumran breaks this law by setting up a security communications room filled with booze. Later on in the episode Sir Humphrey uses this against Jim Hacker.
 
ITN
Abbreviation for Independent Television News.
 
ITV
Abbreviation for Independent Television.
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- J -

Janet and John Bit
The one page summary of a proposal for the Cabinet. The Janet and John Bit translates the proposal in ordinary terms (hence Janet and John). Mentioned by Sir Frank in the YPM episode A Real Partnership regarding the Civil Service pay claim.
 
JB
Unofficial honour, mentioned by Bernard Woolley in the YM episode Doing the Honours. It stands for Jailed by the British, and refers to political figures from the former colonies that have been imprisoned. Examples are Gandhi, Makarios, Nehru, Kenyatta, Ben Gurion, and Mugabe.
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- K -

KBE
Honour abbreviation mentioned in the YM episode The Official Visit. It stands for Knighthood of the Most Honourable Order of the British Empire. Sir Humphrey is in line for receiving this honour.
 
KCB
Honour abbreviation. Stands for Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Bath.
 
KCMG
Honour of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that stands for Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In the Civil Service however it is usually nicknamed as Kindly Call Me God. See also CMG and GCMG.
 
KGB
Abbreviation for the Soviet Committee for State Security. See KGB.
 
Keynesian
Someone who is a supporter of Keynes economic theories, that promote government intervention to stimulate the economy. Referred to in the YM episode The Whisky Priest.
 
Kibbutz
Jewish community. Lucy Hacker wants to spend some time in a kibbutz, as mentioned in the YPM episode A Victory for Democracy. Jim Hacker thinks she already spends enough time in a kibbutz, namely the University of Sussex.
 
Killjoy, Mr.
Term for someone who is doing unpopular things. Mentioned by Bernard Woolley in the YM episode Party Games. He points out that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is Mr. Killjoy as he raises the taxes on beer and cigarettes.
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- L -

Land of Hope and Glory
Patriotic composition by the British composer Edward Elgar. Mentioned by Jim Hacker in the YPM episode The Ministerial Broadcast. He wants opening music by Elgar, but not Land of Hope and Glory.
 
Lassie Come Home
US movie from 1943 featuring the famous dog Lassie. Jim Hacker mentions this movie in YPM episode One of Us when he comments on the news item on the lost dog Benjy on Salisbury Plain.
 
LDC
Abbreviation that stands for Less Developed Country. In the YM episode The Official Visit Sir Humphrey explained that in the past they were called Underdeveloped Countries. But because this term was viewed as offensive they were then called Developing Countries, and later as LDC's. In the future they will be called HRRC's (Human Resource Rich Countries), which means that they are grossly overpopulated and are begging for money.
 
Librium
Tranquilizer that Annie Hacker needed desperately after Jim Hacker's reelection as MP in the YM episode Open Government.
 
Liquid Lunch
Term mentioned in the YPM episode The Ministerial Broadcast when Jim Hacker has a practice session for his first broadcast as PM. At one point he leans so far back while speaking that the producer warns him this will look like he has a liquid lunch (meaning he is drunk).
 
Listed Building
Building that is considered a monument and therefore has a special protected status. In the YM episode The Middle-Class Rip-Off Jim Hacker tries to knock down a listed building to save his local football club. The arts establishment immediately goes into action to prevent this, and with the help from Sir Humphrey they succeed. In the YPM episode The Patron of the Arts Jim threatens to sell off the National Theatre (which is a listed building) to prevent the arts establishment from accusing him of barbarism. 
 
London Allowance
Special allowance for Civil Servants that work in London. The beauty of this allowance is that it doesn't show up in the basic salary calculations of civil servants. And since most of the government civil servants work in London, most will get this allowance. Mentioned in the YPM episode A Real Partnership.
 
LSE
Abbreviation for London School of Economics, the school were Jim Hacker graduated.
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- M -

M1
Motorway 1 between London and Leeds.
 
M4
Motorway 4 between London and Bristol.
 
M11
Motorway 11 between London and Cambridge.
 
M40
Motorway 40 between London and Birmingham.
 
Marxist
People that follow the ideal of Karl Marx. Mentioned in the YM episode The Official Visit.
 
MBE
Honour abbreviation. Stands for Member of the Most Honourable Order of the British Empire.
 
MCC
Abbreviation mentioned in the YPM episode The Bishops Gambit. It probably stands for Marylebone Cricket Club headquartered at the Lord's cricket grounds in London, as it has to do with one of the interests of the Dean of Baillie College.
 
Mercedes
High-quality and expensive German car used a lot by businessmen and within diplomatic circles. Jim Hacker mentions Mercedes in the YM episode The Devil You Know, referring to the luxury enjoyed by the EEC bureaucracy in Brussels.
 
Metadioxin
Chemical that is an inert compound of dioxin. Its production by the British Chemical Corporation is the main subject of the YM episode The Greasy Pole.
 
MI5
See MI5 in the Institutions and Organisations Database.
 
MI6
See MI6 in the Institutions and Organisations Database.
 
MOD
Abbreviation mentioned in the YPM episode The Ministerial Broadcast. It stands for Ministry of Defence.
 
Modernist
Term mentioned in the YPM episode The Bishops Gambit. It is the Church of England codeword for non-believer.
 
Moonraker
Movie about the adventures of James Bond. Jim and Annie Hacker, accompanied by their bodyguards, went to see this movie instead of Belle du Jour, because the bodyguards did not want to see a foreign film. This happened in the YM episode The Death List.
 
MP
Member of Parliament. All people elected to the House of Parliament can put MP behind their name.
 
Mumbo Jumbo
Nickname of an airplane that belonged to nine different African airlines during one month, and was repainted specially for all of them. Mentioned in the YM episode The Official Visit.
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- N -

Napoleon
Cognac brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Jim Hacker lets Sir Humphrey know that there is a message in the communications room, from Napoleon.
 
Napoleon Prize
Prestigious NATO award that is given every 5 years to the statesman that has done the most for European unity. It offers a gold medal, big ceremony in Brussels and 100,000 pounds. Jim Hacker learns that the PM is hoping to win this prize in the YM episode The Writing on the Wall, and he uses this information to save his department from closure.
 
NATO
Abbreviation for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
 
NHS
Abbreviation for the National Health Service.
 
NUT
Abbreviation for the National Union of Teachers.
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- O -

OAP
Abbreviation mentioned in the YM episode The Challenge and it stands for Old and Aged Pensioners.
 
OBE
Honour abbreviation. Stands for Order of the British Empire.
 
O-Level
O-levels are the exams that are taken at age 16. One could leave school at age 15, but most children stayed on to take O-levels to get decent jobs. Bright kids went on to take A-levels at 18, which give entrance to University if you get enough of them. Sarah Harrison remarks in the YM episode Equal Opportunities that most of the civil servant's work requires two O-levels, which is very poor since most jobs require at least five.
 
OM
Honour abbreviation. Stands for Order of Merit. Mention by Bernard Woolley in the YM episode Doing the Honours.
 
OPD
Abbreviation mentioned in the YPM episode The Ministerial Broadcast. It stands for Overseas Policy and Defence Committee.
 
OPEC
Abbreviation for Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
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- P -

Parkinson's Law of Social Work
Mentioned by Dr. Cartwright in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard. It states that social problems increase to occupy the number of social workers available to deal with them.
 
PLO
Abbreviation for Palestine Liberation Organization.
 
PM
Abbreviation for Prime Minister.
 
Polaris
British submarine that carries nuclear missiles. In the YPM episode The Grand Design we learn that there are four Polaris submarines each carrying sixteen missiles with three warheads per missile. In total Britain thus has 192 nuclear bombs with each five times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. However, the Soviet Union has 1,200 missiles targeted. In the YPM episode The Grand Design the plan is to replace Polaris with the Trident missile. Jim Hacker however wants to cancel this and use the money to build a large conventional army.
 
PPS
Abbreviation for Parliamentary Private Secretary.
 
Primary Modern
School level in Great Britain. Mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
 
Propanol
Chemical that the British Chemical Corporation plans to produce in the YM episode The Greasy Pole. Propanol contains metadioxin, an inert compound of dioxin.
 
Provost
Head of a University College. Lord Crichton is Provost of Kings College in the YM episode The Greasy Pole.
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- Q -

QC
Abbreviation mentioned in the YM episode The Moral Dimension. It stands for Queen's Council.
 
QED
Abbreviation for Quad Erat Demonstrandum.
 
Quad Erat Demonstrandum
Latin phrase mentioned by Jim Hacker in the YPM episode The National Education Service. It translates into: which had to be proved.
 
Quarantine
Great Britain has very strict quarantine laws to ensure rabies is kept out. Every pet animal has to be kept in quarantine for at least 6 months at Heathrow airport, before it is admitted in the UK. In the YPM episode A Diplomatic Incident the French President plans to give the Queen a puppy from the litter of the dog she gave to him three years before. Because of quarantine the Queen will have to refuse this gift. Jim tries to find a way around these laws.
 
Queen Anne
Scottish whisky brand that Jim Hacker has at home in the YM episode The Whisky Priest.
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- R -

RAF
Abbreviation for Royal Air Force.
 
Rolls Royce Corniche
Famous car mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
Rosewater Jar
Gift presented to Jim Hacker at the Qumrani reception in the YM episode The Moral Dimension. Although it is very valuable, Bernard has it valued for fifty pounds to make sure Annie Hacker is allowed to keep it. However the Guardian later finds out about this and this spells trouble for Jim Hacker.
 
Round Objects
Jim Hacker's code to say that a document is total nonsense. When he uses it in the YM episode Equal Opportunities Sir Humphrey gets very confused and wants to know who Round is and to what he objects.
 
Royal Garden Party
Yearly event that is attended by all the British aristocracy and important public figures. Sir Humphrey describes it in the YPM episode The Bishops Gambit as a significant religious event.
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- S -

Savile Row
Famous suit brand mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
SEATO
Abbreviation for South East Asia Treaty Organisation. See SEATO.
 
Secondary Modern
School level in Great Britain. Mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
 
Sermon on the Mount
Collection of speeches by Jesus Christ. Sir Humphrey refers to the Sermon on the Mount as a document that certainly would not have been published as a government report since it would do damage to the Defence budget.
 
Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses
Latin saying by Sir Humphrey that translates to: If you had kept your mouth shut, we may have thought you were clever. Mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
 
Smirnoff
Vodka brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Bernard lets Sir Humphrey know that there is a message from Mr. Smirnoff from the Soviet Embassy in the communications room.
 
Smith and Wessons
Brand of revolvers. the bodyguards of Jim Hacker in the YM episode The Death List were wearing these revolvers.
 
Solihull-project
Building project in Solihull that is financed with government money and private investments. It's participants are the DAA and Michael Bradley of Sloane Enterprises Ltd. The project costs 74 million pounds and spans nine acres. The private investment partner Michael Bradley however is on the verge of bankruptcy and this is the main subject of the YM episode Jobs for the Boys. The contract is finally taken over by the bank of Sir Desmond Glazebrook after he has been offered a job as chairman of a quango.
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- T -

Target
Jim Hacker is called a "target" by the bodyguards that are assigned protecting him against a possible assassination attack in the YM episode The Death List.
 
Teachers
Whisky brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Bernard lets Jim Hacker know that there is a message from a delegation of teachers in the communications room.
 
Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis
Latin saying mentioned by Sir Humphrey which translates to: The times change and we change with the times. Mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
 
Thank Me No Thankings
Phrase introduced by Jim Hacker in the YPM episode The Key. Based upon the saying "but me no buts".
 
Time-and-Motion Study
Research study to discover the most efficient way of performing work. In the civil service time-and-motion studies ultimately lead to recommendations for adding staff. In the YM episode The Economy Drive Sir Humphrey tells Jim Hacker that a time-and-motion study in the year before showed that the DAA needed another 500 people on top of the 23,000 already.
Timeo Danaos et Dona Ferentes
Latin saying roughly translated to Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. See Trojan Horse. The usage of this saying sparks of a long monologue by Bernard Woolley in the YM episode The Bed of Nails.
 
Titanic
Famous cruise ship that sunk by hitting an iceberg on its first journey to America. Mentioned in the YM episode The Official Visit.
 
Tower of Babel
Biblical term referring to a very confused undertaking because nobody can understand one another. Sir Humphrey compares the organisation of the EEC bureaucracy with the Tower of Babel, because of all the different nationalities in each rank.
 
TPLAC
Abbreviation invented by Jim Hacker. It stands for Tin-Pot Little African Country and is used in the YM episode The Official Visit.
 
Trident
Submarine equipped with nuclear missiles. Manufactured in the USA and bought by the British government as a successor to Polaris. Sir Humphrey mentions Trident in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard as an example of government money wasted. In the YPM episode The Grand Design Trident again appears and now Jim Hacker (as PM) wants to cancel Trident - which costs £15 billion - and use the money to build a large conventional army. Now Sir Humphrey wants to go ahead with Trident. In subsequent YPM episodes Trident is often mentioned like in The Ministerial Broadcast and The Smoke Screen. In the YPM episode A Victory for Democracy the planned cancellation of Trident drives Jim Hacker to keep the Americans happy regarding St. George's Island.
 
Trojan Horse
Famous tale that tells of the Greeks conquering Troje by giving them a large wooden horse as a gift, that secretly had Greek soldiers inside. This way the Greek got inside Troje and took control of the city. The inns and outs of this tale are extensively discussed by Bernard Woolley (largely a monologue) in the YM episode The Bed of Nails. He points out that technically it was not a Trojan Horse at all but a Greek Horse. Furthermore he extensively discusses the tag Timeo Danaos et Dona Ferentes.
 
TSR.2
Military aircraft developed by the British Aircraft Corporation for the British government in the late 1950's. Huge development costs and massively over budget. TSR stands for Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance. Sir Humphrey mentions TSR.2 as an example of government money wasted in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard.
 
TUC
Abbreviation for Trade Union Congress.
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UK
Abbreviation for United Kingdom.
 
UN
Abbreviation for United Nations.
 
UNESCO
Abbreviation for United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
 
Unilateralist
Someone who believes that arms reduction is possible by the dismantling of nuclear weapons of one side (for instance by NATO) and this will lead to a dismantling by the other side as well (USSR). Jim Hacker confesses he has some sympathy for this argument in the YM episode The Challenge, but Sir Humphrey immediately says that in that case he has to resign from the government. Jim Hacker however is not that unilateralist. Agains in the YPM episode The Grand Design Sir Humphrey suspects Jim Hacker to be a unilateralist when he wants to cancel the order for Trident.
 
Upper Clyde Ship Builders
Mentioned by Sir Humphrey in the YM episode The Skeleton in the Cupboard as an example of government money wasted. Presumably Upper Clyde Ship Builders was a ship construction company in Scotland that depended on huge government subsidies.
 
USSR
Abbreviation for the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics.
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Vat 69
Whisky brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Bernard lets Jim Hacker know that there is a message from in the communications room from the VAT man about his '69 returns.
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Walker, John(nie)
Whisky brand. In the YM episode The Moral Dimension the brands of all sorts of spirits are used as a secret code to get to the security communications room. That room is filled with booze to surpass the Islamic law against drinking at the Qumrani reception. Jim Hacker lets Bernard know that there is a message from Mr. John Walker in the communications room.
 
Western Region Line
A Western Region Line of British Rail runs close to Heathrow airport but there is no connection from Heathrow to it. This fact is mentioned in the YM episode The Bed of Nails regarding the Integrated National Transport Policy.
 
Winalot
Brand of dog cookies mentioned in the YPM episode One of Us.
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(empty)
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Yorkie Bar
Candy bar mentioned in the YPM episode The Grand Design.
 
YP
Abbreviation for "Your Problem". Introduced by Sir Frank Gordon in the YPM episode A Conflict of Interest.
 
YTS
Abbreviation for Youth Training Scheme. Mentioned in the YPM episode The National Education Service.
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(empty)
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24 Hour Save the Badger Vigil
Nude protest vigil that Lucy Hacker and her boyfriend were planning to hold in Hayward's Spinney. Its purpose was to keep Hayward's Spinney's special protective status, so to preserve the badger colony in the Spinney. At the last moment it was called of because Sir Humphrey convinced them that there were no badgers in Hayward's Spinney. Featured in the YM episode The Right to Know.
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