William Heath Robinson (31 mai 1872 — 13 septembre 1944) est un illustrateur britannique. Il est resté célèbre pour ses dessins de machineries d'une complexité absurde. L'expression « Heath Robinson » est entrée dans la langue anglaise pour désigner de tels engins.
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Heath-Robinson — /hēth robˈin sən/ adjective Used to describe an over ingenious, ridiculously complicated or elaborate mechanical contrivance ORIGIN: Heath Robinson (1872–1944), an artist who drew such contraptions • • • Heath Robinsonesqueˈ, Heath Robinsōˈnian… … Useful english dictionary
Heath Robinson — Heath Rob|in|son [ˌhi:θ ˈrɔbınsən US ˈra: ] adj BrE [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: William Heath Robinson (1872 194), English humorous artist who drew pictures of very complicated machines] a Heath Robinson machine, system etc is very complicated in… … Dictionary of contemporary English
heath robinson — (UK) If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks … The small dictionary of idiomes
Heath Robinson — (1872–1944) a cartoonist and illustrator who was known especially for his comic drawings of strange and complicated machines for doing very simple tasks. As a result, any machine that appears ridiculously complicated is now often referred to as… … Universalium
Heath Robinson — British if a machine or system is Heath Robinson, it is very complicated in a way that is funny, but not practical or effective. My granny s got this great Heath Robinson device for slicing eggs … New idioms dictionary
Heath Robinson — UK [ˌhiːθ ˈrɒbɪns(ə)n] / US [ˌhɪθ ˈrɑbɪnsən] adjective British a Heath Robinson machine or method is funny and clever but much too complicated for whatever job it is intended to perform • Etymology: Heath Robinson (1872–1944) was a British… … English dictionary
Heath Robinson — /hiθ ˈrɒbənsən/ (say heeth robuhnsuhn) adjective 1. (of a mechanical device) excessively complicated in its design though intended to perform a simple function. 2. impractical and absurdly complex, as a scheme. Also, Heath Robinsonian. {after the …
Heath Robinson — adjective Brit. ingeniously or ridiculously over complicated in design or construction. Origin early 20th cent.: named after the English cartoonist William Heath Robinson … English new terms dictionary
Heath Robinson — adjective BrE a Heath Robinson machine, system etc is very complicated in an amusing way but not at all practical; rube goldberg AmE heating / hi:tIN/ noun (U) BrE a system for making a room or building warm; the heat AmE: a huge heating bill see … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
Heath Robinson — adj. absurdly ingenious and impracticable in design or construction. Etymology: W. Heath Robinson, Engl. cartoonist d. 1944 who drew such contrivances … Useful english dictionary
