The most prized possession or achievement.
Also a reference to colonial India. India was the British Empire's most important colony: the most populous, the most valuable, the most strategic.
Using "jewel in the crown" to refer to colonial India can also be a play on words about a real crown jewel -- the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, a large precious stone. The Diamond was taken after the defeat of the Indian Punjab by the British East India Company and subsequently mounted in the crown of queens of the British Empire. The current Queen Elizabeth II, aware that wearing the jewel offends many Indians, displays the Diamond in the Tower of London.
Because of the weight of the colonial heritage of the phrase, care must be taken when using the phrase to avoid being racist or insulting. If you lack understanding then it is best to avoid the phrase.
The phrase is often used in a jingoistic fashion in English tabloid newspapers, a recollection of the glory days of the British Empire.
The "Jewel in the Crown" is the title of the first of four books written by Paul Scott in 1966. The books are set during the closing decades of the British Raj. In 1984 these books were made into a television mini-series which was acclaimed for its high quality. Both works have a complex and unsentimental view of colonial India, making the title intentionally ironic.
With both jingoistic and ironic uses of "jewel in the crown" being common, readers should consider in what sense the phrase is meant.
Also a reference to colonial India. India was the British Empire's most important colony: the most populous, the most valuable, the most strategic.
Using "jewel in the crown" to refer to colonial India can also be a play on words about a real crown jewel -- the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, a large precious stone. The Diamond was taken after the defeat of the Indian Punjab by the British East India Company and subsequently mounted in the crown of queens of the British Empire. The current Queen Elizabeth II, aware that wearing the jewel offends many Indians, displays the Diamond in the Tower of London.
Because of the weight of the colonial heritage of the phrase, care must be taken when using the phrase to avoid being racist or insulting. If you lack understanding then it is best to avoid the phrase.
The phrase is often used in a jingoistic fashion in English tabloid newspapers, a recollection of the glory days of the British Empire.
The "Jewel in the Crown" is the title of the first of four books written by Paul Scott in 1966. The books are set during the closing decades of the British Raj. In 1984 these books were made into a television mini-series which was acclaimed for its high quality. Both works have a complex and unsentimental view of colonial India, making the title intentionally ironic.
With both jingoistic and ironic uses of "jewel in the crown" being common, readers should consider in what sense the phrase is meant.
Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister of Britain, is said to have called India "the brightest jewel in the crown of the British Empire".
by rustedpunchbuggy January 16, 2021
Get the Jewel in the crownmug. A crown is, besides the object that is worn by royalty, is a substitute for King and Queen for Non-binary and Genderqueer people.
Person A: OH MY GOD YES KING!!!
Person B: actually, they're Non-binary so its actually Crown
Person A: oh ok...OH MY GOD YES CROWWNNN!!!! STUNNING!!
Person B: actually, they're Non-binary so its actually Crown
Person A: oh ok...OH MY GOD YES CROWWNNN!!!! STUNNING!!
by Mars lmao January 13, 2021
Get the Crownmug. She resisted the temptation to crown him.
by Arminkshipper June 19, 2024
Get the Crownmug. person 1 i got the silver qwerty crown
person 2 step 2 of 4 to being a loser
person 1 starts going for gold
person 2 step 2 of 4 to being a loser
person 1 starts going for gold
by vanillaijeidhei March 16, 2022
Get the silver qwerty crownmug. The art of placing turds on a mates forehead while they are stone cold drunk in the pattern of a crown. Upon waking, the hours have slightly dried out the turds to a crust that must be scrubbed off.
Gary passed out last weekend and we decided to make him a crusty crown so everyone at the party knew who the king was.
by C.L. Cates June 24, 2014
Get the crusty crownmug. by fullsend101 September 27, 2018
Get the Triple Crownmug. The act of placing one’s scrotum in the tail pipe of a Toyota Crown sedan and then turning the vehicle on.
by Equinsuocha June 25, 2025
Get the Crown Royalmug.