drop the writ

verb

To call a federal or provincial election.

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Meanings

verbdrop the writ (third-person singular simple present drops the writ, present participle dropping the writ, simple past and past participle dropped the writ)

present singular third person drops the writ · participle present dropping the writ · participle past dropped the writ · past dropped the writ

  1. CanadaidiomaticTo call a federal or provincial election.

    Mr. Chrétien visited Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and asked her to drop the writ, meaning that for the next 36 days, Canada will be hit with election fever.

    2000 October 22, Allison Dunfield, “Chrétien calls election for Nov. 27”, in Globe and Mail, Toronto

Origin

Compression of draw up the writ. "Writ" means a writ of election issued by the Governor that initiates a parliamentary election.

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Cite this entry
APA

drop the writ. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20the%20writ

MLA

“drop the writ.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20the%20writ. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “drop the writ,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20the%20writ.

Source: drop the writ on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.