Downing Street
noun/ˈdaʊnɪŋ striːt/
/ˈdaʊnɪŋ striːt/
[uncountable]- (not used with the) a way of referring to the British prime minister and government, taken from the name of the street where the prime minister lives
- Downing Street issued a statement late last night.
- We are expecting a statement from Downing Street later today.
CultureDowning Street is a short street in Westminster, London, which contains the official London home of the British prime minister at Number 10. In fact, the words 'Downing Street' and 'Number Ten' are often used to mean the Prime Minister's office or the British government. In the same street is the official home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Number 11 and the office of the Chief Whip at Number 12. The street was built in the 1680s by an MP, George Downing.More Like This Place names representing activitiesPlace names representing activitiesWord Originnamed after the original developer of the site, Sir George Downing (c.1624–84), a diplomat under both Oliver Cromwell and Charles II.
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Downing Street