Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dorothy-dixer

noun

/ˈdɔːrəθi ˈdɪksər/

Definition

A question or remark that is designed to give the respondent an opportunity to respond positively, often used in a political context.

Examples

The politician received multiple dorothy-dixers during the press conference to highlight their achievements.
During the debate, several dorothy-dixers were thrown to the opposition to make them look good.

Meaning

In Australian political vernacular, a dorothy-dixer is a question posed to a member of parliament to allow them to shine by providing a favorable answer, often scripted and rehearsed beforehand.