gulliver's travels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2literary, cultural, academic
Quick answer
What does “gulliver's travels” mean?
The title of a satirical novel written by Jonathan Swift, published in 1726.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of a satirical novel written by Jonathan Swift, published in 1726.
A cultural reference signifying a satirical work about human nature and society, often used metaphorically to describe an experience involving travel to strange or bizarre lands or encountering societies with absurd customs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; it is a canonical work of English literature known in both cultures.
Connotations
Connotes classic literature, satire, political allegory, and fantastical adventure equally in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK contexts due to Swift's status as an Anglo-Irish writer and the novel's place in the British literary canon, but it is a standard reference in American academia and culture.
Grammar
How to Use “gulliver's travels” in a Sentence
be reminiscent of ~make an allusion to ~read ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gulliver's travels” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The situation had a Gulliver-esque absurdity about it.
- His report was a Gulliver's Travels-level satire.
American English
- The corporate retreat was a Gulliverian odyssey of strange rituals.
- She wrote a Gulliver-esque account of her semester abroad.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically used to describe a company's foray into a bizarre or overly complex foreign market: 'The merger felt like a chapter from Gulliver's Travels.'
Academic
Referenced in studies of 18th-century literature, satire, political thought, and the novel as a form.
Everyday
Used to humorously describe a confusing or strange travel experience: 'My trip through the government offices was a real Gulliver's Travels.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts outside of literary analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gulliver's travels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gulliver's travels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gulliver's travels”
- Misspelling as 'Gulliver's Travels' (incorrect apostrophe). Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'We took a gulliver's travel'). Confusing it with 'Robinson Crusoe' as merely an adventure story, missing the satirical element.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often abridged for children as a simple adventure story, the full novel is a sophisticated and often dark satire on human nature, politics, science, and society intended for adults.
It was written by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift and first published in 1726 under the pseudonym Lemuel Gulliver.
It means 'very small' or 'petty.' It originates from Lilliput, the island of tiny people in the first part of Gulliver's Travels.
Yes. It is commonly used as a cultural metaphor to describe an experience involving encountering bizarre, absurd, or strangely systematic societies or situations, often during travel or in complex organizations.
The title of a satirical novel written by Jonathan Swift, published in 1726.
Gulliver's travels is usually literary, cultural, academic in register.
Gulliver's travels: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡʌlɪvəz ˈtrævlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡʌlɪvərz ˈtrævəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a Gulliver among the Lilliputians (a giant among small-minded people)”
- “to go on a Gulliver's travel (to have a bizarre or enlightening series of experiences)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GULLIVER's TRAVELS: GUY (Gulliver) ULTIMATELY LEARNS IN VARYING EXOTIC REGIONS ABOUT SOCIETIES' RULES, ETHICS, AND LAWS VIA ECCENTRIC STORIES.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A SERIES OF FANTASTICAL VOYAGES; SOCIETY IS AN ABSURD SPECTACLE.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Gulliver's Travels' primarily known as?