laundry list
noun1
Archaic Originally, a list of articles of clothing that had been sent to be laundered.
- Learn how to make out a laundry list and to check it when the laundry comes home.1920, Scouting for Girls: Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts, First Edition, The Girl Scouts, Inc., page 126
2
Broadly, Idiomatic A long and often tedious list of items.
- Among the laundry list of inconveniences most of us can't abide: cold coffee, airport delays, the high price of gasoline.2007 July 31, Ceri Au, “Fighting for the Right to Flush”, in Time:
- The senior Liberal Democrat, echoing the private views of other senior figures across parties, said a daily "laundry list" sent out by the party headquarters contributes to the "diminution of individual expression or even thought in politics" as politicians are expected to repeat a positive central message over and over again.2013 October 31, Rowena Mason, quoting David Steel, “Lord Steel criticises culture of spin and tweeting in modern politics”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
1 more example
- The MAGA masses are growing disillusioned with Justice Department officials who are failing to deliver damning information on a laundry list of hot-button issues — especially Jeffrey Epstein's suicide.2025 May 20, Tal Axelrod, “MAGA faithful grow frustrated with Trump's Justice Department”, in Axios:
3
Colloquial An unrealistic list of skills, qualifications and experiences, as demanded by employers when hiring staff.
4
Broadly, Colloquial An equally unrealistic skill set claimed by a candidate on a résumé.
- Related terms
- laundry mark, checklist, shopping list, to-do list, purple squirrel, unicorn