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bully pulpit

bully pulpit

14 9.0
A public position that lets someone speak and influence many people
  • noun
  • /ˈbʊli ˈpʌlpɪt/
  • Literature
translation icon : tribuna
  • Most notably, however, Fernández de Kirchner used the bully pulpit to criticize those opposing the bill.
  • use the bully pulpit

And within the civil service, even if you were very high up, the bully pulpit may not be yours.

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Examples

  • I'm afraid that the bully pulpit does not accomplish the task.

    Blog text (25)
  • The presidency is uniquely a place of moral leadership, said Harry Truman, a "bully pulpit," said Theodore Roosevelt.

    Blog text (11)
  • Yes, others have said this, but not with the power of the bully pulpit.

    Blog text (25)
  • Teddy Roosevelt had his bully pulpit.

    Academic text (1995)
  • If you're independent and you use that bully pulpit right.

  • Hopefully you can use your "bully pulpit" to explain and advise whether this is occurring.

    Blog text (29)
  • On the other hand, his inability to use the bully pulpit effectively could be contributing to his ineffectiveness.

    Blog text (32)
  • Traditionally, cabinet secretaries are tasked with promoting administration policies through the bully pulpit.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Annan has used his bully pulpit to mediate some of the high-profile conflicts between countries and firms.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The senator used her bully pulpit to advocate for healthcare reform, ensuring her voice was heard on the issue.

Synonyms

pulpit
vsbully pulpit
78 5.1

A raised platform in a church where a preacher speaks to the people

is a figurative position of authority that gives wide public speaking opportunity

How Influential

seat
55 5.7
bully pulpit
  • Literature
14 9.0
platform
  • Formal
334 5.6
soapbox
16 6.6

Surface Forms

bully pulpit singular
bully pulpits plural

Morphology

bully + pulpit

The noun 'pulpit' clearly denotes an elevated platform for speaking and the listed archaic sense of 'bully' ('splendid, excellent') yields a compositional reading of 'an excellent platform' — so a learner who knows those constituent meanings can infer an opportunity to speak. However, the archaic meaning of 'bully' is uncommon and modern senses (to intimidate) or the historical/figurative shift to 'public office' are idiomatic, so the meaning is not fully predictable for a typical B1 learner.

Etymology

Bully pulpit comes from President Theodore Roosevelt, who used bully to mean 'great' and pulpit to mean a raised platform for speaking. So a bully pulpit is a 'great' place or job where someone can speak out and make people listen.