brains trustn.

1933 Japan Chron. 8 July 2 (heading) The Roosevelt ‘Brains trust’.

1934 H. G. Wells Exper. in Autobiogr. II. ix. 792 This Brains Trust movement.

1941 New Statesman 27 Sept. 304/3 A question sent in to the B.B.C. by a schoolboy of eleven was discussed by the Brains Trust on Sunday.

1941 Manch. Guardian Weekly 5 Dec. 365/4 In one unit the commanding officer, a captain, and a private form the Brains Trust.

1945 ‘R. Crompton’ William & Brains Trust i. 13 It was the time when the Brains Trust movement, so rashly started by the B.B.C., was sweeping England. Every town, every village, every parish, every street had its Brains Trust, at whose meetings earnest seekers after knowledge discussed the scientific, political or economic problems of the day.

1962 Lancet 1 Dec. 1180/1 A brains trust discussed practical health education of village parents.

1977 A. Cooke Six Men v. 161 We both knew enough about the temper and prejudices of the Kennedy brains trust to be certain that Stevenson would never be on the list of suggested Secretaries of State.

2007 J. Lott Warm Bucket Brigade xii. 155 The vice president was a very reluctant supporter of the New Deal, and he detested Roosevelt's ‘Brains Trust’.

1933 Chicago Tribune 30 July 2/7 This extensive list of brains trusters engaged in research and planning activities of the recovery administration.

1943 Theatre World Mar. 28/2 Actors and actresses make excellent ‘Brains Trusters’.

1958 New Statesman 1 Feb. 127/2 He believes the Brains-trusters really are equipped to pronounce themselves upon, virtually, anything.

1990 Harvard Business Rev. Mar. 240/1 A Gorbachev brains truster, cheerful, open.

2006 A. Lawson Commonw. of Hope iii. 55 In the midst of intense national debate over reform plans, the Brains Trusters maintained harmony, despite their differences on specific points.