Room 101 phrase origin
The phrase ‘Room 101’ comes from George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949.
In the novel, Room 101 is a torture chamber where prisoners are subjected to their worst fears and nightmares. The name of the room was supposedly inspired by a conference room at the BBC Broadcasting House, where Orwell used to work and attend ‘boring‘ meetings.
Cutural reference
Room 101 has become a popular cultural reference, especially in the UK, where it is used to describe something that is ‘undesirable’ and to be ‘locked away’.
There is also a BBC comedy television series called Room 101, where celebrities are invited to discuss their pet hates and persuade the host to consign them to oblivion in Room 101.
So, now you know.