First Lord of the Treasury

7.7

A senior government minister responsible for economic strategy, usually the prime minister

noun

: Primer Lord del Tesoro

Traditionally, the British Prime Minister also serves as the First Lord of the Treasury.

Examples

The First Lord of the Treasury is responsible for setting the government's economic strategy.
The First Lord of the Treasury announced new economic measures in Parliament today.
Her historical research focused on the role of the First Lord of the Treasury during the Victorian era.
The First Lord of the Treasury announced new economic policies.
Who is the current First Lord of the Treasury?
In a press conference, the First Lord of the Treasury outlined plans to boost the economy.
Making critical decisions during the financial crisis, the First Lord of the Treasury played a key role.

Synonyms

Prime Minister

vsFirst Lord of the Treasury

522 3.2

The head of a country's government who leads the cabinet and decides policy

is a cabinet minister focused on economic strategy, often held by the government leader

Surface Forms

First Lord of the Treasury singular

First Lords of the Treasury plural

Morphology

first + Lord + of + the + treasury

The parts 'first' + 'Lord' + 'of the treasury' transparently signal a high-ranking official associated with the government treasury, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely infer it refers to the senior treasury minister. However, the exact institutional meaning and convention (that it is a formal historical title usually held by the Prime Minister) are conventional and not fully predictable from the components alone, so full understanding requires background knowledge.

Etymology

First Lord of the Treasury comes from old British government when a small group looked after the country's money and the top leader was the First Lord of the Treasury. That's why today the title usually goes to the Prime Minister and means the minister 'in charge of money and economic strategy'.