seal of approval
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: An official or authoritative endorsement, sanction, or sign that something meets required standards of quality or acceptability. It signifies that a person, group, or product has been formally reviewed and judged to be satisfactory or superior.
Usage
This noun phrase is used to indicate formal or official approval. It often implies a stamp of quality or a mark of credibility given by a trusted authority.
Examples
- The new safety protocol finally received the seal of approval from the regulatory board.
- Having a famous chef's seal of approval on the cookbook guarantees its recipes are tested and reliable.
- The committee's report lacked the official seal of approval, so its recommendations were not adopted.
Advanced Usage
- To give/get one's seal of approval: This common collocation describes the act of granting or receiving endorsement.
- The lead investor gave the business plan his personal seal of approval.
- Figurative Use: While historically literal (a wax seal), it is now almost exclusively used figuratively to mean endorsement.
- Her smile was all the seal of approval he needed to proceed with the plan.
Variants and Related Words
- Stamp of approval: A very common synonym with identical meaning.
- Good housekeeping seal of approval: A specific, trademarked example of this concept, awarded to products that meet certain standards.
- Endorsement (n.): A broader term for a public declaration of support or approval.
- Sanction (n.): Official permission or approval for an action.
Synonyms
- Endorsement
- Authorization
- Imprimatur
- Certification
- Blessing (informal)
Related Idioms
- To give something the green light: To give permission to proceed. (This is related but focuses on permission rather than a mark of quality.)
- To rubber-stamp: To approve automatically or without proper consideration. (This can have a negative connotation, unlike the generally positive "seal of approval.")
Noun
- an indication of approved or superior status