Winter of Discontent

See also: winter of discontent

English

Alternative forms

• winter of discontent

Etymology

An allusion to the opening line of William Shakespeare's play Richard III ("Now is the winter of our discontent").

Proper noun

Winter of Discontent

1. (UK politics, historical) A period during 1978–79 in the United Kingdom, when the Labour Party's efforts to control inflation led to widespread strikes by public-sector trade unions demanding larger pay rises.
   • 2021 September 23, Larry Elliott, “Petrol disruption will fuel fears of new winter of discontent”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Nor is the government facing a strike by tanker drivers, as was the case in early 1979 during the winter of discontent.

See also

• Arab Winter