# act of Congress

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/act-of-congress
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An authorization that is extremely difficult to obtain, especially in a timely fashion.

## Examples

- Getting a refund from that company takes an act of Congress.
- I needed to get the manager's signature, but it felt like an act of Congress just to find him.
- Securing approval for the new building project required such extensive paperwork that it felt like an act of Congress to finally move forward.

## Origin

From the literal sense of act (“legislation”) enacted by US Congress.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.