Skip to main content

Captain's call 

A clueless or embarassing decision by an incompetent political leader. This term is widely used in Australia in relation to decisions of conservative Primeminister Tony Abbot.
It was a captain's call by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot to grant a Knighthood in January 2015 to Prince Philip, the Husband of the Queen of England. Another captain's call by Mr Abbot was an attempted delisting 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area, an application swiftly rejected by the United Nations’ world heritage committee in June 2014.
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

captain's call 

A decision made unilaterally by a team leader without consulting colleagues, often a massive clusterfuck.
Malcolm: Shouldn't we have a discussion about big decisions like this?
Tony: Nope, it's my call, I'm captain.
Malcolm: Yeah that's a right captain's call that is.
captain's call by willozap January 26, 2015
Word of the Day on March 3, 2015

captain's call 

Extraneous exercise of authority. An independent decision made, usually by a junior member of management with minimal input from line staff and even less influence by executive directive. Such decisions are often unpopular and counter productive, although they can on rare occasion be beneficial to the organization.
Employee #1: Hey, what happened to casual Fridays? I was looking forward to dressing down for a day.
Employee #2: Cancelled, business attire required.
Employee #3: But why? We've always had designated dress down days.
Employee #4: I don't know girl, ask your supervisor. He made the call.
Employee #5: Yeah right- a captain's call.
captain's call by JaiKwaan March 3, 2015
More from Urban Dictionary

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026

Northstarring

Finding your way back to the truth by fixing on one verified fact and working out from there, the way you navigate by the North Star when everything around you is spinning.
Rumours were flying everywhere, so she went northstarring — one checked fact at a time.
Northstarring by Light Bearer October 22, 2026
Word of the Day on October 23, 2026

Plate of Brown 

A plate of brown consists of foods that have little to no nutritional value, and are typically deep fried. A true plate of brown will also be accompanied by a dark soda.
Wanna go to meal hall & grab a plate of brown?
Plate of Brown by Cheddar Craigson September 18, 2020
Word of the Day on October 22, 2026
Load more