turkeys voting for Christmas

== English == === Alternative forms === a turkey voting for Christmas === Etymology === Because turkeys are commonly eaten at Christmas, turkeys voting for (an early) Christmas would be hastening their own death. The phrase is thought to have been coined by the British Liberal Party politician David Penhaligon (1944–1986) who used it to express opposition to the 1977 Lib–Lab pact. It was popularized by the British Prime Minister James Callaghan (1912–2005) who used it in the House of Commons in March 1979 when his Labour Party lost a vote of no confidence: see the 1977 and 1979 quotations. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /laɪk ˌtɜːkiz ˈvəʊtɪŋ fə ˈkɹɪsməs/ (General American) IPA(key): /laɪk ˌtɝkiz ˈvoʊtɪŋ fɚ ˈkɹɪsməs/, [-ɾɪŋ-] Rhymes: -ɪsməs Hyphenation: like turk‧eys vot‧ing for Christ‧mas === Phrase === like turkeys voting for Christmas (British, simile, humorous, of an action) Self-defeating; serving to bring about a situation detrimental to the performer of the action. [from 1977] Synonym: like turkeys voting for an early Christmas ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== === References === === Further reading === turkeys voting for Christmas on Wikipedia.Wikipedia