the revolution will not be televised
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A societal revolution will happen genuinely and in real life, and will not be caught on film.
Register: dated
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “the revolution will not be televised” mean?
A societal revolution will happen genuinely and in real life, and will not be caught on film.
Is “the revolution will not be televised” formal or informal?
the revolution will not be televised is generally dated.