Mother of Presidents
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The State of Virginia. Does your mother know you're out? A jeering remark addressed to a presumptuous youth or to a simpleton.
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 “Mother of Presidents” mean?
The State of Virginia. Does your mother know you're out? A jeering remark addressed to a presumptuous youth or to a simpleton.
Is “Mother of Presidents” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.