Definition

Proper noun: 1. A major financial street in London: Lombard Street is a street in the City of London, historically and presently known as a center for banking and financial institutions. 2. A metonym for the British financial sector: The name is often used figuratively to refer to the London banking community or financial interests, similar to how "Wall Street" refers to New York finance.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Literal):
  • The bank's headquarters are located on Lombard Street.
  • For centuries, Lombard Street has been at the heart of London's financial district.
• Proper noun (Figurative):
  • The decision sent a shock through Lombard Street. (Meaning: it shocked the London financial community.)
  • The views of Lombard Street were carefully considered by the Chancellor.

Advanced Usage

• "The opinion of Lombard Street": Refers to the collective sentiment or judgment of the financial establishment in London.
  • The policy was designed to reassure the opinion of Lombard Street.

Variants and Related Words

• Lombard: (Historical) A banker or moneylender, originally from Lombardy in Italy, who conducted business in this area of medieval London. The street is named after them.
• Wall Street: The equivalent financial district and metonym in New York, USA.
• The City (of London): The historic and financial district where Lombard Street is located; often used as a broader synonym for the UK's financial services industry.

Synonyms

• The City (when used to mean the UK financial sector)
• The Square Mile (another name for the City of London financial district)
• The financial heart of London

Related Idioms

• "A Lombard Street to a China orange": An old-fashioned idiom meaning very long odds or a near-certainty, highlighting Lombard Street's association with wealth and finance. It suggests betting all the wealth of Lombard Street against something of little value (a China orange).
  • It's Lombard Street to a China orange that he'll be promoted. (It is almost a certainty.)

Noun

1. a street in central London containing many of the major London banks