seal of approval

An indication of approval, endorsement, or authorization of something. No, you can't start that construction project until the boss gives it his seal of approval. Are you really sure you want to put your seal of approval on these unfounded claims? If they're proven false, it will ruin your reputation.

See also: approval, of, seal

seal of approval

An endorsement of something or someone, as in Our candidate doesn't have the governor's seal of approval, or The new management gave the old refund policy their seal of approval. This idiom was used, and perhaps invented, as an advertising gimmick of Good Housekeeping Magazine, which gave its so-called "seal of approval" to products it endorsed; the products' packaging in turn bore a small emblem attesting to this endorsement. The noun seal here is used in the same sense as in set one's seal on.

See also: approval, of, seal

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

seal (or stamp) of approval

an indication or statement that something is accepted or regarded favourably.

This expression stems from the practice of putting a stamp (or formerly a seal) on official documents.

See also: approval, of, seal

a ˌseal of apˈproval

the formal support or approval of a person or an organization: Our project has the director’s seal of approval.

See also: approval, of, seal

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