Dictionary

act of Congress en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the literal sense of act (“legislation”) enacted by US Congress.

Meanings

1. (Philippine, US, literally) A statute enacted by the United States Congress or Congress of the Philippines.
2. (US, colloquial, idiomatic) An authorization that is extremely difficult to obtain, especially in a timely fashion.
   • Does it take an act of Congress just to get a stop sign on a corner?
   • Another problem was bureaucratic: the transfer of the ship required, literally, an act of Congress. It was an agonizing process that ground along for twenty-six months, through the tenures of three secretaries of the navy, two presidents, and two mayors of New York. 2008, Bill White with Robert Gandt, Intrepid: The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship, page 273:
   • Should Frederick stick around — and apparently it would take an act of Congress to get him out of the ICU — he might take up where Molly had brutally left off. 2000, Nevada Barr, Liberty Falling, page 79:
   • Since it seemed like getting a glass of wine was going to require an act of Congress, I quickly agreed. 2003, E. Lynn Harris, A Love of My Own, page 54:

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