a week is a long time in politics

phrase

In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. idiomaticIn politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.

Origin

Usually attributed to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the mid-1960s. Also used by (and incorrectly attributed to) Australian PM Gough Whitlam in the 1970s.

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Cite this entry
APA

a week is a long time in politics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20week%20is%20a%20long%20time%20in%20politics

MLA

“a week is a long time in politics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20week%20is%20a%20long%20time%20in%20politics. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “a week is a long time in politics,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20week%20is%20a%20long%20time%20in%20politics.

Source: a week is a long time in politics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.