bottom drawer syndrome

noun

The situation where information is hidden or discarded because it is undesirable in some way, e.g. unfavourable research results.

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Meanings

nounbottom drawer syndrome (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe situation where information is hidden or discarded because it is undesirable in some way, e.g. unfavourable research results.

Origin

The lowest drawer in a piece of furniture might be expected to contain less important items; also, a researcher might quietly tuck undesirable findings into a desk drawer where no one else will see them.

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Cite this entry
APA

bottom drawer syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bottom%20drawer%20syndrome

MLA

“bottom drawer syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bottom%20drawer%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bottom drawer syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bottom%20drawer%20syndrome.

Source: bottom drawer syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.