spin doctor

n. Slang

A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure, especially a politician.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spin doctor

(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) informal a person who provides a favourable slant to an item of news, potentially unpopular policy, etc, esp on behalf of a political personality or party

[C20: from the spin given to a ball in various sports to make it go in the desired direction]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spin′ doc`tor

Slang. a press agent skilled at spin control.

[1980–85]

spin doctor

A person whose job is to promote the best possible interpretation of a politician’s acts or statements.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

spin doctor - a public relations person who tries to forestall negative publicity by publicizing a favorable interpretation of the words or actions of a company or political party or famous person; "his title is Director of Communications but he is just a spin doctor"

spinmeister

public relations person - a person employed to establish and promote a favorable relationship with the public

spin doctor

noun PR person, publicist, propagandist, PRO, PR man, public relations officer, press agent, PR woman a spin doctor-turned-minister

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

Spindoktor

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Unlike many high-profile spin doctors, who become the story, Iain was self-effacing and better for it.

Spin doctor with an eye on the ball; He's our man about the House - in London

What spin doctors do not seem to appreciate is that most people can easily see through their wiles.

The sinister spin that lurks behind the party

Recent political history has shown that spin doctors create more problems than they solve.

Tories spin into bickering disarray Commons Man; Chris Moncrieff's week at Westminster

I've met spin doctors who would boil their grannies alive to manage the news their way.

Ulster Man of The People: I'll hear no Moore from spin doc Jo

It has been another bad week for spin doctors with the Football Association's David Davies looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

Business view: Hoddle's twaddle prompts new spin on spin

The bill for the SNP's posse of spin doctors is also rising - although First Minister Alex Salmond insists he still spends less than the previous administrations.

The spiralling cost of spin; RecordView

The Blair years invented spin doctors and here we have the best spin doctor in the world, the most arrogant and vain person in politics.

Letter: Your Say - The wages of spin; In association with POST OFFICE

SPIN doctors for the Taoiseach and Tanaiste are costing the taxpayer more than EUR 2.5m a year, new figures revealed yesterday.

Government spin doctors' bill hits pounds 6m

The CIPR responded to the recent Phillis Review of Government communications with a call that special advisers and politically appointed 'spin doctors' should no longer instruct PR officers who are public servants; unfortunately this recommendation was only partially met by the UK Government's recent reforms.

Reporting spin

This tragedy was originally brought about by spin doctors' duplicity.

Letter: Man hounded to his death

"Like everyone, I thought they were wicked, but the horrible fact is that this is what spin doctors do."

In a spin over bad news story; THE INSIDER - Paddy Shennan goes behind the headlines

Since Labour was elected it has been bedevilled by stories about lobbyists, spin doctors, Geoffrey Robinson's business affairs and anything to do with Peter Mandelson.

On the House: How New Labour may get new life