British Council
Preserved but no longer current.
This was established in 1934 for the purpose of encouraging British cultural interests abroad, including the formation of schools, the introduction of foreign students to this country, and the projection of a knowledge of all aspects of British life and thought through the press, films, distribution of literature, exhibitions, lectures, concerts and plays. The British Council is financed by Parliament, on a Foreign Office vote.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “British Council” mean?
This was established in 1934 for the purpose of encouraging British cultural interests abroad, including the formation of schools, the introduction of foreign students to this country, and the projection of a knowledge of all aspects of British life and thought through the press, films, distribution of literature, exhibitions, lectures, concerts and plays. The British Council is financed by Parliament, on a Foreign Office vote.
Is “British Council” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.