tannoy

Britishism for a public-address or loudspeaker system, a use of a corporate name as generic, like the American "Coke machine" or "Kleenex". Derived from TANtalum allOY, the Tannoy company builds loudspeakers and high-end audio speakers and is still in business.

"Where are you going, Mac?"

"Didn't you hear? They came over the tannoy five minutes ago and said we'd be closing early on account of Christmas Eve."

15👍 3👎

tube tannoy

System of stiff, pre-recorded announcements on the tube. Bastard annoying repeated at every stop every morning and evening.

"The next station is Charing Cross. Change here for the Northern Line and National Rail services. Alight here for Trafalgar Square"...Train stops..."This is Charing cross"...continues as before..."This is a Bakerloo Line train for Harrow and Wealdstone. This train is ready to depart- stand clear of the closing doors"... BEEP BEEP BEEP

16👍 4👎