Phrase Finder

Alphabet soup

Alphabet soup

Meaning

A jumble of words or letters, often referring to organisations known by their initials, like CIA or BBC.

Examples

All those institutions of the European parliament are confusing – a real alphabet soup.

Where did it originate?

USA. An early 20th century adaptation of the name of the soup made from pasta letters.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Alphabet soup

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