Buggins's turn

Meaning

Noun

• A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.

Origin

• Earliest recorded use is by Admiral Fisher, later First Sea Lord, in a 1901 letter.
• 'Buggins' is a humorous invented surname, suggestive of a man of mediocre ability.