Mastermind BrE AmE
a popular British television ↑ quiz programme, in which people compete to see who can give the most correct answers in a fixed amount of time. The programme is known for the large black leather chair that each person sits in to answer their questions. If someone does not know the answer to a question, they say ‘Pass’ and the ↑ presenter , (1972–97 Magnus Magnusson, John Humphries 2004-) then asks the next question. If the time for a person’s questions finishes while the presenter is in the middle of a question, he says ‘I’ve started so I’ll finish’, and then continues with the question. People use both these expressions in a humorous way.