member for Barkshire

idiom

Meaning

A person who has a cough which causes them to sound as if they are barking.

Origin

disputed origin

A pun on member for Berkshire, i.e. a Member of Parliament for that district.

Examples

SIMPLE

He is the member for Barkshire because of his loud cough.

CONTEXTUAL

Since he started coughing so loudly in the quiet library, everyone jokingly called him the member for Barkshire.

COMPLEX

The poor man could not finish his speech without a hacking cough, earning him the unfortunate title of the member for Barkshire among his colleagues.

Anchors to

Member