subs. phr. (journalists’).—The parliamentary recess: in the absence of debates, with a real or assumed dearth of news, the newspapers are driven to print all kinds of political and social twaddles: cf. GIGANTIC GOOSEBERRY, SHOWER OF FROGS, LORD ROSEBERY’S LATEST.
1882. PAYN, For Cash Only, viii. Sir Peter’s eyes grew big as gooseberries in THE SILLY SEASON, in his earnest intentness.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], Illustrated London News, 22 Sept., 275, 1]. THE SILLY SEASON, forsooth! Why September is a month when, perhaps, the daily newspapers are fuller of instructive and entertaining matter than is the case at any other season of the year.
1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 16 Aug., 4, 2. Signs of the so-called SILLY SEASON, which has been somewhat delayed this year owing to the political crisis, are now beginning to appear.
