Ingeniously or ridiculously over-complicated in design or construction.
‘a vast Heath Robinson mechanism’
‘Standing outside (now with cold feet), watching ‘her’ (as Donald refers to the wheel) crank into action as the sluice gates let in water from the Essett burn, there was a Heath Robinson moment.’
‘The Liberal Democratic Party is a Heath Robinson contraption which defies the Laws of physics.’
‘The organisation has a Heath Robinson scheme involving a trolley on wheels with a grease trap.’
‘There in Brighton is a Heath Robinson contraption that defies the laws of physics.’
‘Mounted on a supermarket trolley is a Heath Robinson device.’
Origin
Early 20th century named after W. Heath Robinson (see Robinson, Heath).
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