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writ

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drop the writ

Of prime minister, to issue a request to the head of state to dissolve parliament and (generally) call for new elections. A corruption of the proper term "draw up the writ," it has now passed into common vernacular. Primarily heard in Canada. With members of parliament in open opposition to one another, the prime minister is expected to drop the writ as early as Saturday.

See also: drop, writ

writ large

(slightly formal)

expressed in a bigger or more obvious way She believed that cultures are just personalities writ large. The genius of the story is that it's about ordinary life writ large.

Usage notes: usually used after a noun, as in the examples

See also: large, writ

be writ large

  (formal)

to be very obvious Anger was writ large in his face.

See also: large, writ

writ large

  (formal)

if something is another thing writ large, it is a clearer or stronger form of that thing Hollywood is American society writ large.

See also: large, writ

writ large

Signified, expressed, or embodied with greater magnitude, as in That book on Lincoln is simply an article writ large. [Mid-1600s]

See also: large, writ

writ large

Signified, expressed, or embodied in a greater or more prominent magnitude or degree: "The man was no more than the boy writ large" (George Eliot).

See also: large, writ