ten points from Gryffindor en · X
Etymology
From the Harry Potter series, in which students of the magical school Hogwarts belong to four houses (Harry Potter belongs to Gryffindor), and earn or lose points for them based on their actions.
Meanings
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(humorous) Used to disapprove of a statement or action.
“You’re late,” Martha told him, and Max had to pause. […] “Ten points from Gryffindor.” She tutted, shaking her head.
2021, Carla de Guzman, chapter 2, in If the Dress Fits, 2nd edition, Midnight Books, →ISBN:“Oh, Mr. Fanjon, I did not see you. How are you?” / Fanjon knew he was taunting him. “I can assure you, Mr. Fine, that if you were in my class right now, I’d put you in detention.” / Neville smiled sadly. “Too bad we’re not at school, mon ami.” / Fanjon went pale. “And collect ten euros from you!” he snarled. / And then Neville put the cherry at the top and made them all howl. “And ten points from Gryffindor!” he cried, and roared in laughter, dropping on all fours and slapping his knees.
2013 July 18, E. Fanjon, The Bullynator, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 206:Gloria spilt gravy down her front. ‘Ten points from Gryffindor!’ I cried. Billy used the toilet and forgot to pull the flush. ‘Ten points from Gryffindor!’ But pretty soon it stopped raising a laugh. Jed: ‘Isn’t that joke a bit old now, Daddy?’
2003, Dave Hill, chapter 22, in Dad’s Life: Confessions of an Imperfect Father, London: Review, →ISBN, pages 271–272:“Justin, I appreciate you’ve acknowledged that you should be here, even if you broke about three other rules in that speech.” / “Are you gonna tap on your little screen like Jack and give me the ten points from Gryffindor treatment?”
2013, Trish Cook, Brendan Halpin, “Justin”, in A Really Awesome Mess, New York, N.Y.: Egmont USA, →ISBN, page 45:He was outraged that it didn’t have any of the advertised toppings on it […] ‘He’d bought flatbread instead of pizza? Or those ready-made bases?’ / Mum shakes her head, her eyes sparkling with glee. ‘Wrong! Ten points from Gryffindor! Five minutes into the phone call, the guy goes quiet. “Oh,” he says. “I seem to have opened the box upside down.”’
2018, Cat Clarke, chapter 11, in We Are Young, London: Quercus Children’s Books, →ISBN:
Antonyms
wikipedia: House system · wikipedia: Harry Potter · wikipedia: Gryffindor · wikipedia: Hogwarts