dollar of the daddies

en-noun

dollar of the daddies (plural dollars of the daddies)

dollars of the daddies (plural)
dollar of our daddies (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-dollar of the daddies.wav

A parodic alteration of dollar of the fathers (referring to the Founding Fathers or one's ancestors).

And now irreverent jokers complain that the "Dollar of the Daddies" is below pa.

1877, “Currency”, in American Journal of Numismatics, volume XIII, Boston Numismatic Society, page 108:

You say that you “want to restore silver"; now let us have the old conditions. “We want the 'dollar of the daddies',” is your cry.

1896, “Appendix”, in Congressional Record: containing the procedures and debates of the Fifty-Fourth Congress, First Session, volume XXVIII, Government Printing Office, page 127:

Many persons believe that the so-called "dollar of the daddies," weighing 412½ grains (nine tenths fine), having a ratio to gold of "16 to 1" in value when first coined, was the original dollar of the Constitution.

1898 September 25, Alexander E. Outerbridge Jr., “Curiosities of American Coinage”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 53, D. Appleton & Company, page 601:

(obsolete, colloquial) The pre-1873 American silver dollar.


rasquache

en-adjective

rasquache (comparative more rasquache, superlative most rasquache)

more rasquache (comparative)
most rasquache (superlative)

From Mexican Spanish rascuache (“poor, coarse or vulgar”).

bor

(US) Having or relating to a do-it-yourself attitude in Chicano culture; able to make something from nothing, or make do with the resources at hand.


fat is flavor

(US, cooking) Foods need to contain fat to appear flavorful to consumers.


outstater

(US, chiefly Minnesota) Someone from outstate (the part of a state outside the major metropolitan areas).


Woketopia

For quotations using this term, see Citations:Woketopia.

(US, politics, derogatory) A woke utopia; a world or state of affairs based around social justice demands.


CNCS

w:Corporation for National and Community Service

(US) Initialism of Corporation for National and Community Service.


Cola Town

A shortening probably influenced by cola (the beverage).

(slang, US) A nickname for the city of Columbia, South Carolina.


Brink's truck

(US) A secure truck, of the Brink's company, that carries bullion and cash.


stroad

Blend of street + road, so named because the widths and speeds of such roads make them dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, while their excessive number of intersections and driveways prevent them from being able to move vehicles safely and efficiently. Coined by American urban planner Charles Marohn in 2011.

coin

While Marohn came up with the neologism partly in a spirit of fun, he considers stroads a deadly serious problem. Not only are they dangerous and aesthetically repugnant, he argues that they are economically destructive as well.

2014 January 7, Sarah Goodyear, “Defining the Worst Type of Street Design”, in CityLab, Bloomberg:

The federal government pitched in $11.5 million for this stroad, so it requires this step before construction begins.

2017 June 30, David Sachs, “DPW Moves Forward With Making Quebec Street a Wide, Dangerous Stroad Instead of Prioritizing People Over Cars”, in Streetsblog Denver:

Roads I ride on: […] Very frequently, a four lane suburban stroad with 30,000 to 40,000 cars per day. 12 foot lanes. That's a tough one, because it's sort of sharable with a tiny car (Fiat 500, VW Beetle) if the driver is careful. But anyone else will be passing too close.

2019 January 27, Frank Krygowski, “AG: Lit Crit wanted”, in rec.bicycles.misc (Usenet), message-ID <q2lvot$tda$1@dont-email.me>:

A stroad has the driveways, intersections, and crosswalks (sometimes!) of a street, but the higher speed-limit of a road, perhaps 45 mph (70 kph) or more. Oh, and one more thing. The stroad has the multiple lanes of travel one might associate with an avenue (in Manhattan, say) or a limited access highway.

2024, Jonathan Maskit, Bicycle, Bloomsbury, →ISBN:

(transportation planning, US, derogatory) A wide, fast road with a large number of intersections and driveways attached.


Mexipino

(US) A person of mixed Mexican and Filipino ancestry.


Mexipino

(US) Having mixed Mexican and Filipino ancestry.


pop a deuce

en-verb

pop a deuce (third-person singular simple present pops a deuce, present participle popping a deuce, simple past and past participle popped a deuce)

pops a deuce (present singular third-person)
popping a deuce (participle present)
popped a deuce (participle past)
popped a deuce (past)


pro-slavist

pro-slavists (plural)
proslavist (alternative)

Among the signers was John Rice Jones, a consistent pro-slavist[…]

1890, W. A. Burt Jones, “Jones, John Rice”, in Chicago Historical Society's Collection, volume 4, page 239:

[…]and the other was Clement Vallandigham, of Ohio, then a hated pro-slavist and afterwards a noted opponent of the war to preserve the Union.

1921, S. K. Donovan, “John Brown at Harper's Ferry and Charlestown”, in Ohio Archæological and Historical Quarterly, page 322:

(US, historical) A supporter of slavery in the United States.


proslavist

(US, historical) Alternative spelling of pro-slavist.


corn pudding

en-noun

corn pudding (countable and uncountable, plural corn puddings)

(US) A creamy food made chiefly from stewed corn.


NVA

National Volleyball Association
w:National Volleyball Association

(US) Initialism of National Volleyball Association.


freezoree

Blend of freeze + jamboree or Blend of freeze + camporee


fratority

fratorities (plural)
frarority (alternative)

(US) A social organization of students at a college or university, like a fraternity or sorority but accepting members of both sexes.


groceteria

In a groceteria, the bacon is already stripped of its rind, the steaks are boned and cut to the size of the family, and even six-pennyworth of marrow bones is wrapped up securely enough to be posted home.

1954, Ernest Watkins, Prospect of Canada, page 42:

(Canada, US, dated) A self-service grocery store.


slightually

(US, dialect, archaic) slightly; to a limited extent


thirteenth grade

thirteenth grade (plural thirteenth grades)

(US, education) The year in school that comes after twelfth grade in some schools in the US, and that came after twelfth grade before 1988 in Ontario, Canada.

kolmastoista luokka

does not technically exist in Finland, but sometimes used of the third year in lukio

You went to community college? That's nothing but the thirteenth grade.

secondary education
secondary education#English

(US, education, derogatory, humorous) A reference to college as nothing more than a continuation of high school, since secondary education typically ends after the twelfth grade.


zeroth grade

zeroth grades (plural)
0th grade (alternative)

(US, education) A hypothetical year of grade school before first grade.


first grader

first graders (plural)
1st grader (alternative)
first-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in first grade.


second grader

second graders (plural)
2nd grader (alternative)
second-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in second grade.


fourth grader

fourth graders (plural)
4th grader (alternative)
fourth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in fourth grade.


fifth grader

fifth graders (plural)
5th grader (alternative)
fifth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in fifth grade.


sixth grader

sixth graders (plural)
6th grader (alternative)
sixth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in sixth grade.


seventh grader

seventh graders (plural)
7th grader (alternative)
seventh-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in seventh grade.


eighth grader

eighth graders (plural)
8th grader (alternative)
eighth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in eighth grade.


ninth grader

ninth graders (plural)
9th grader (alternative)
ninth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in ninth grade.


tenth grader

tenth graders (plural)
10th grader (alternative)
tenth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in tenth grade.


eleventh grader

eleventh grader (plural eleventh graders)

eleventh graders (plural)
11th grader (alternative)
eleventh-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in eleventh grade.


twelfth grader

twelfth graders (plural)
12th grader (alternative)
twelfth-grader (alternative)

(US, education) A pupil who is in twelfth grade.


thirteenth grader

thirteenth grader (plural thirteenth graders)

thirteenth graders (plural)
13th grader (alternative)
thirteenth-grader (alternative)

(US, education, rare) A pupil who is in thirteenth grade.


cattle guard

cattle guards (plural)
cattleguard (alternative)
cattle-guard (alternative)

The Clogher Valley was probably the first line to introduce the cattle guards now so commonly used in light railway construction; where the line leaves or rejoins the roads, a pit about 5 ft. long is sunk between the rails, covered by a grid; this form of protection is arranged on each side of the road, and cattle are afraid to cross the device, [...].

1941 May, Voyageur, “The Clogher Valley Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 194:

The level crossings at Stretton and at the point where the A.L.R. crosses the main road south of Stretton are provided with gates; other crossings are unprotected, save for cattle-guards.

1944 January and February, “Light Railways in Derbyshire”, in Railway Magazine, page 25:


Mardi Grass

(historical, US, sports) The artificial turf used as a playing surface at the New Orleans Superdome until 2003.


Californicate

en-verb

Californicate (third-person singular simple present Californicates, present participle Californicating, simple past and past participle Californicated)

Californicates (present singular third-person)
Californicating (participle present)
Californicated (participle past)
Californicated (past)

Squeezing ... cars off ... is unlikely to do ... any good[.] In Utah we see no bumper stickers reading DON’T CALIFORNICATE UTAH. Utah is busy Californicating itself.

1978, Wallace Stegner, Page Stegner, “Rocky Mountain Country”, in The Atlantic:

Don't Californicate Nevada. Give wilderness a chance.

1986, Robert W. Maichle, on behalf of the Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada, Nevada Wilderness Act of 1985, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 832:

Many longtime residents strongly oppose the extremism of the newcomers, sporting bumper stickers that say, “Don't Californicate Colorado.”

2012 [2001], Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 65:

(US, derogatory, transitive) To subject to Californication, the large-scale development of land.


gender reveal

It was going to be a super-busy weekend at the palace—with the royal babies' official gender reveals today and the baby showers tomorrow.

2019, Ann Omasta, The Royally Broke Billionaire:

(chiefly US, often attributive) An event at which the sex of an expected baby is revealed to family and friends as being either male or female, often by means of a cake, balloons, etc., coloured blue for male or pink for female.


SPT

Substantial Presence Test
Substantial Presence Test#English

(US) Initialism of Substantial Presence Test.


(US, taxation) A variant of the 1040 income tax return for non-resident tax payers.


(US, taxation) An IRS form for tax-exempt organizations (such as charities).


(US, taxation) A form to declare that someone is a U.S. tax payer.


(US, taxation) A form to declare that someone is not a U.S. tax payer or to request reduced tax withholding.


Bushite

Pessimism was heresy in Bushland—the relentlessly upbeat Karl Rove wouldn’t hear of it. But BC04 staffers were beginning to confess to each other, though not very loudly, their qualms. They began to have impermissible feelings of unease and defeatism. “Everyone just had that feeling within themselves,” a Bushite told a Newsweek reporter in June. She said it quietly.

2004, Evan Thomas, with reporting by the staff of Newsweek, Election 2004: How Bush Won and What You Can Expect in the Future, →ISBN, page 75:

How can a Labour Prime Minister adopt the position of a neo-conservative Bushite so rapidly, and with such fervent conviction?

2005, Tariq Ali, Rough Music: Blair, Bombs, Baghdad, London, Terror, →ISBN, page 3:

The Bush-era celebrates double-speak in all that it does—laws have lovely names denying the reality of what they’re doing, whatever’s said by a Bushite means the opposite and all political statements must be read to recognize how the Bushites are doing/planning/seeking exactly the opposite.

2007, “Bush’s Need to Use Violence: Alters Being Led by Alters (by Jerrold Atlas)”, in The Journal of Psychohistory, page 10:

Synonym of Bushie (US, politics) A political supporter or fan of U.S. President Bush (either Bush 43, or Bush 41, or both Presidents George Bush)


federalwide

“We had at the end of the Obama administration the first-ever federalwide regulatory regime on climate,” said David G. Victor, the director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation at the University of California, San Diego. “Most of that, the Trump administration has actively rolled back.”

2020 September 13, Michael D. Shear, Coral Davenport, “In Visiting a Charred California, Trump Confronts a Scientific Reality He Denies”, in The New York Times:

(chiefly US) Of a federal level; throughout a nation.


reduced isolation

(US, education, often attributive) In Connecticut, the status of a school meeting certain racial diversity quotas.


busthead

(US, slang) moonshine (strong home-brewed alcoholic drink)


Medicine Line

First known attestation from 1880 where the term was described as being used "because no matter what [the Indians] have done [committed crimes] upon one side they feel perfectly secure after having arrived upon the other". A synonymous term which was attested earlier is medicine road from 1869 and ostensibly a calque of a Sioux term transcribed as "pejuta canku". Unrecorded use of the term or a similar one may date back more than a century earlier than the first attestation. See also medicine (“protective charm among the Native Americans”).

(informal, Canada, US) The Canada-United States border; the 49th parallel north: a circle of latitude that is 49° north of Earth's equator.


take water

take water (third-person singular simple present takes water, present participle taking water, simple past took water, past participle taken water)

takes water (present singular third-person)
taking water (participle present)
took water (past)
taken water (participle past)

(US, colloquial) To run away; to back down.


sweet as candy

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sweet as candy.wav

Cora Dell was from the South. She wasn't very sharp, but she was sweet as candy. A precious little doll. Boys fell all over themselves when she marched by.

(Canada, US, simile) Synonym of sweet as pie


broish

en-adj

broish (comparative more broish, superlative most broish)

more broish (comparative)
most broish (superlative)

While there’s no telling what will happen with Ello, it’s worth remembering that Budnitz isn’t just another broish Stanford grad with an app idea. His social dreams may not pay off big, but as the founder of the well-established, ultra-hip toy and design company Kidrobot, he doesn’t really need to strike it big as the next Mark Zuckerberg.

2015 April 3, Taylor Hatmaker, “Whatever happened to Ello, the social network that was supposed to kill Facebook?”, in The Washington Post:

Together they’ve helped both actors burrow deeply into their roles and have made sure that our sympathies divide neatly. In Mr. Horowitz’s Steve we see both bookish diffidence and broish expectations of how the world will treat him.

2018 April 10, Alexis Soloski, “Review: In ‘Dutch Masters,’ Subway Seatmates, So Close and Yet So Far”, in The New York Times:

(chiefly US, informal) Resembling or characteristic of bros; broey.


call balls and strikes

en-verb

call balls and strikes (third-person singular simple present calls balls and strikes, present participle calling balls and strikes, simple past and past participle called balls and strikes)

calls balls and strikes (present singular third-person)
calling balls and strikes (participle present)
called balls and strikes (participle past)
called balls and strikes (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-call balls and strikes.wav

The San Rafael Pacifics and Vallejo Admirals, two independent (not major league-affiliated) minor league teams, recently played two games using a computer system, rather than the home plate umpire, to call balls and strikes.

2015 August 10, Alex Shultz, “Rise of the machines? Baseball weighs use of automated strike zone”, in LA Times:

(baseball) To act as a home plate umpire.

Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot said Thursday she wants and expects Inspector General Joe Ferguson to “call balls and strikes” during her administration and sees no reason their friendship would conflict with his role as a city watchdog.

2019 May 13, Fran Spielman, “Watchdog should stay, call ‘balls and strikes’ despite our friendship: Lightfoot”, in Chicago Sun-Times:


wizzled

en-adj

wizzled (comparative more wizzled, superlative most wizzled)

more wizzled (comparative)
most wizzled (superlative)

Two or three wizzled antiques of the same sex mumbled sourly together upon a sofa.

1855, Putnam's monthly magazine of American literature, science, and art, page 145:

"That doesn't sound very nice," objected Nan. "Don't you love your grandfather?"
"Not much," said this perfectly frank young savage. "He's so awfully wizzled."
"'Wizzled'?" repeated Nan, puzzled.
"Yes. His face is all wizzled up like a dried apple."

1916, Annie Roe Carr, Nan Sherwood at Pine Camp, page 94:


go negative

en-verb

go negative (third-person singular simple present goes negative, present participle going negative, simple past went negative, past participle gone negative)

goes negative (present singular third-person)
going negative (participle present)
went negative (past)
gone negative (participle past)

After losing several primaries and facing a campaign debt of $250,000, his associates persuaded him to go negative.

2008, Lynda Lee Kaid, Christina Holtz-Bacha, Encyclopedia of Political Communication, volume 1:

All four of the principle candidates in the 2008 presidential election “went negative” in their acceptance addresses.

2011, Judith S. Trent, Robert V. Friedenberg, Robert E. Denton (Jr.), Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices (page 235)

The goal of this chapter is to situate our work in the broader literature on negative campaigning, as well as to address a key question: why do candidates have to go negative?

2015, Kyle Mattes, David P. Redlawsk, The Positive Case for Negative Campaigning, page 24:

We also found that gubernatorial candidates went negative on Twitter.

2016, Yasmin Ibrahim, Politics, Protest, and Empowerment in Digital Spaces, page 187:

(US, politics) To focus on attacking political opponents rather than promoting oneself.


crook one's elbow

crook one's elbow (third-person singular simple present crooks one's elbow, present participle crooking one's elbow, simple past and past participle crooked one's elbow)

crooks one's elbow (present singular third-person)
crooking one's elbow (participle present)
crooked one's elbow (participle past)
crooked one's elbow (past)

His first drink went over in a gulp and Jol had the second ready for him when he set down the empty glass. Just as Nord was crooking his elbow on the second drink, a small, rat-faced man sidled up to him at the bar.

1950, Wonders of the Spaceways, numbers 1-6, page 30:

Once a top-hand cowboy was leaning over the mahogany of a watering hole between cattle drives, merrily crooking his elbow and painting his nose and watching his trail pay melt away, drink by drink.

2011, Richard Bird Baker, Corral Dust from Across the Big Divide:


Rose Bowl

(US, American football) The annual NCAA college football championship game typically played on New Year's Day.


Ladies' Mile

(US, historical) A shopping district in Manhattan, New York City at the end of the 19th century.


Mexican American

en-noun

Mexican American (plural Mexican Americans)

(US, nonstandard, proscribed) Any person of Latin American descent in the United States.


two-forty on a plank road

The passion of young New York is for horses — fast horses — two-forty on a plank road.

1852, G. Henry Howard Paul, Dashes of American humour, page 206:

[…] some that remained, running to and fro, with white rags suspended on broom-handles, and an old darky had a bleached salt-sack tied to a limb of a tree, waving it at the rate of two-forty on a plank-road.

1862, Frank Moore, The Rebellion Record, a Diary of American Events, page 474:

(Canada, US, slang, obsolete) A very fast speed.

In Canada, where trotting is also a very favourite amusement, and whence came the famous trotting mare Flora Temple, a very “fast” young lady is generally spoken of as “two forty on a plank road.”

(Canada, US, slang, obsolete, by extension) The quality of being "fast", i.e. immoral in one's habits.


astonisher

1874, The American Observer, New Series, Volume 1, “Rejoinder,” p. 525,
“ […] Nothing whatever” ! (the italics are “S. S. C.’s,” the “astonisher” is mine.)

1947, Stewart Holbrook, The Story of American Railroads, American Legacy Press, 1981, Chapter 39, p. 443,
More often than not these prophets […] belong to the oh-the-wonder-of-it-all school, who point to the sky as the new and sole artery of travel and transportation and marvel, in complete awe—which they indicate by running over with astonishers!—at the thought of monstrous planes hauling the freight and passengers of the nation, even of the world.

1984, Richard Hauer Costa, “The Grisly Graphics of Malcolm Lowry” in Gordon Bowker and Paul Tiessen (eds.), Proceedings of the London Conference on Malcolm Lowry, Goldsmith’s College, University of London and The Malcolm Lowry Review, Wilfrid Laurier University, p. 100,
An ad for a boxing match can symbolize the uncommunicable, with its curious shape-of-the-type configurations—¡BOX!, with the ‘astonisher’ written upside down before the word and right side up after.

(typography, printing, computing, chiefly US) An exclamation mark, the punctuation mark “!”.

(typography, journalism, chiefly US) A short line of smaller type above (or sometimes below) the main headline of an article, usually placed flush-left.


ITBS

ITBS (countable and uncountable, plural ITBSes)

(US, standardized testing, countable) the test set, or test scores from the Iowa Test of Basic Skills


southwest salad

southwest salad (countable and uncountable, plural southwest salads)

(Canada, US) A salad with grilled chicken, beans, cheese, etc.


DVE

(US, law enforcement) Abbreviation of domestic violent extremist.


HVE

(US, law enforcement) Abbreviation of homegrown violent extremist.


Coined by the U.S. SAE iron and steel committee in 1919, replacing the earlier designation 52-95; being a 52-series iron alloy (steel).

52100 bearings developed the largest compressive residual stress.

52100 continues to be the most used bearing steel.

In the annealed condition 52100 is comparatively easy to machine.

(US, metallurgy) A common ball bearing metal, also used for blademaking, knifemaking. A high-carbon low-alloy chromium steel; typically containing 1.0% carbon and 1.5% chromium, with low silicon (0.25%) and manganese (0.35%).


Bidencare

Blend of Biden (“Joe Biden”) + healthcare or Medicare and perhaps influenced by earlier ObamaCare.

blend

BidenCare (alternative)
Biden-care (alternative)
Biden Care (alternative)

In spite of the plan’s detractors—including President Donald Trump who has characterized both Obamacare and Bidencare as “socialized medicine,” Biden’s plan may be a case of repackaging a plan that already exists.

2020 October 23, Robin Saks Frankel, “Is Bidencare The New Obamacare?”, in Forbes:

Even if Congress cannot pass Medicare for All – they are destined to make a serious effort in passing BidenCare – which is a “public option” where citizens can opt into Medicare.

2021 February 10, Gregg Lawrence, Patsy Writesman, “‘BidenCare’ endangers private health insurance and seniors’ health care”, in Tennessean, USA Today Network, Opinion:

Mr. Biden supports expanding the Affordable Care Act and creating a public option — a plan he has nicknamed Bidencare.

2021 December 14, Sydney Ember, “Where Does Joe Biden Stand on Major Policies?”, in New York Times:

(US, neologism) A healthcare plan created by Joe Biden and based on ObamaCare.


sexpresso

It also boasts dress-up days such as Military Mondays, Cowgirl Tuesdays, Bikini Wednesdays, Schoolgirl Thursdays and Fantasy Fridays. Other coffeehouses in the area are also trying to capitalize on the “sexpresso” concept.

For instance, in February 2007 the Los Angeles Times ran an article that described the appearance of a new variety of coffee shop in the suburbs of Seattle, the “sexpresso” bar. Noting that “coffee, the famed Seattle obsession,” is now being combined “with sex, the fabled human obsession,” the paper discussed the success of establishments like the “Natte Latte and Bikini Espresso,” whose full-figured barristas^([sic]) serve customers while wearing baby doll nighties, halter tops, or negligees.

2012, Mark Walia, A Tale of Two Cultures:

(Canada, US, attributive, informal) The marketing trend of coffee shops staffed by scantily-clad female baristas.


under hack

If, for example, you pay your mess bills with checks which repeatedly bounce, why shouldn't you get ten days under hack, or a court martial? If you say you have insurance, and then don't, why shouldn't the commanding general recommend you for a general court martial?

1984, The Marine Corps Gazette, page 25:

Sometimes they got in the way and were "thrown in the brig" by Marines, or "confined to quarters" and "put under hack" by a kind, but firm father.

1989, Verle E. Ludwig, U.S. Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, page 90:


hardship post

(US) A diplomatic post associated with difficult living conditions.


open housing

(US) The policy by which a person's background (e.g. race or religion) may not be considered as a factor in whether to sell them a property.

Housing discrimination in the United States


cocktail peanut

en-noun

cocktail peanut (plural cocktail peanuts)

They may be served at cocktail bars and similar establishments to encourage the purchase of drinks.


racketbuster

(chiefly US, informal) A person, especially a law enforcement officer, who breaks up criminal rackets.


racketbusting

(chiefly US, informal) The work of a racketbuster, breaking up criminal rackets.


cross up

en-verb

cross up (third-person singular simple present crosses up, present participle crossing up, simple past and past participle crossed up)

crosses up (present singular third-person)
crossing up (participle present)
crossed up (participle past)
crossed up (past)

(Canada, US, informal) To double-cross or betray (someone).


DEFSMAC

(US, military) Acronym of Defense Special Missile and Astronautics Center.


Death Trail

(US, theater, derogatory) A grueling and often unprofitable tour of small theaters from Chicago to the West Coast.


denied area

(US, espionage) An extremely hostile operational environment with heavy surveillance.


autobid

(US, sports) A bid for a sports team to participate in a tournament, based on objective performance in prior competition.


Qts.

From English term quarters, i.e. living quarters, by shortening.

Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address:

1943, James Longuemare Mooney, draft registration card:

Priced for quick sale, call 83-2127 after 4:00. Qts. 2151 Curundu.

1958 December 18, “For Sale:—Boat”, in Harmodio Arias, editor, The Panama American, volume 34, Colón: The Panama American Press, Inc., →OCLC, Classifieds, page 10, column 6:

(US, military, in postal addresses) Abbreviation of quarters used when addressing mail.


Qtrs.

(see table below)

1989 August 18, “DODDS School Bus Routes -- Pacific”, in Colin Hale, editor, The Tropic Times, volume 2, number 29, Quarry Heights, Panama: United States Southern Command and Armed Forces Information Program, →OCLC, page 8, column 2:


umbershoot

Blend of umbrella + parachute. Compare bumbershoot.

[Sees umbrella.] Hello, Smarden's forgot his umbershoot—ain't it a daisy.

1896, John Arthur Fraser, A Delicate Question: An Original Comedy Drama in Four Acts, page 37:

Then I saw a young fellow coming along with a nice large umbrella, and I thought if he was going as far as my house I would beg the shelter of [his] umbershoot.

1912 November 22, Judd Mortimer Lewis, "Try It Yourself Some Time", in "Tampering with Trifles" Houston Post, p.6. c.8

2011 Beverly Lewis, The Judgment (The Rose Trilogy Book #2) (Bethany House: Bloomington, Minnesota) →ISBN
“Sure looks like rain's comin',” Dat said, gawking toward the window, seemingly preoccupied with the weather. “It'll raise the water table, for sure.”
“Be sure and take an umbershoot,” Hen said, offering a smile.

(US, slang, humorous, obsolete) An umbrella


Finndian

(Canada, US) A person of mixed Finnish and Native American heritage.


Finndian

Being Indian isn't easy for a kid. Not being fully Indian is even worse. I wasn't Finnish, and I wasn't Indian. Half-breed. Finndian.

2011 April, Arne Vainio, “My Ojibwe and Finnish Heritage”, in Ojibwe Inaajimowin, volume 13, number 4, Mille Lacs Band, →OCLC, page 7, column 4:

Seppälä stayed in the U.S. from July to October that year and even went to Canada to meet some Finndian people in Toronto.

2016 November 5, Jana Peterson, “Finnish writers, photographer spotlight ‘Finndians’ in new book”, in The Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minnesota: Forum Communications Company, archived from the original on 2020-11-15:

(Canada, US) Of mixed Finnish and Native American heritage.


Arabtino

Blend of Arab + Latino. Coined by Stephen Colbert in 2004 for an interview with Sam Jammal, an Arabtino and delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention, broadcast on The Daily Show.

They're late enough in 24's run so that the formula insured a minimum of dead episodes, but before the show turned into a lazy parody that marked time between Jack going all Torquemada on some unsuspecting Arabtino.

2010 June 18, Justin Robinson, “Bauer v. Westen”, in The Satellite Show, archived from the original on 2020-11-24:

(US) A person of mixed Arab and Latino ancestry.


Arabtino

I believe her empathy lies in our tie as first‐generation college Latino (Arabtino) doctoral educators navigating a majority upper middle class white campus.

2016 August 5, Yamil Avivi, Latino/a Youth Subcultures in Elizabeth, New Jersey: Memory, Spacemaking, and Citizenship, 1980s-1990s (unpublished PhD thesis; PDF), →DOI, archived from the original on 2020-11-24, Acknowledgements, page ⅳ:

Battling it out are frontrunners Ammar Campa-Najjar, an "Arabtino" American former Obama Administration official, and school board member Josh Butner.

2018 June 1, “Criminal Records”, in Countdown, volume 18, number 1, Arab American Institute Foundation:

(US) Having mixed Arab and Latino ancestry.


black car

(US) A large government SUV with blacked-out windows


black helicopter

en-noun

black helicopter (plural black helicopters)

conspiracy theories
conspiracy theory#Noun

(US, conspiracy theories) A secret covert government helicopter of the deep state, used for clandestine missions, such as UFO cover-ups or capturing political prisoners.


hitch one's wagon to

en-verb

hitch one's wagon to (third-person singular simple present hitches one's wagon to, present participle hitching one's wagon to, simple past and past participle hitched one's wagon to)

hitches one's wagon to (present singular third-person)
hitching one's wagon to (participle present)
hitched one's wagon to (participle past)
hitched one's wagon to (past)

Finally, I wanted to tell a more personal story that might inspire young people considering a life of public service: how my career in politics really started with a search for a place to fit in, a way to explain the different strands of my mixed-up heritage, and how it was only by hitching my wagon to something larger than myself that I was ultimately able to locate a community and purpose for my life.

2020, Barack Obama, “Preface”, in A Promised Land, Crown:

(chiefly US, idiomatic, informal) to rely on (someone or something) for success


go to Cain's

go to Cain's (third-person singular simple present goes to Cain's, present participle going to Cain's, simple past went to Cain's, past participle gone to Cain's)

goes to Cain's (present singular third-person)
going to Cain's (participle present)
went to Cain's (past)
gone to Cain's (participle past)

From the name of a company in New York City that rented out props and costumes.

[…] Norma Terris (who, so far as we had known, was born in Show Boat and went to Cain's with it) […]

1934, Stage, volume 11, numbers 7-12, page 7:

(US, theater, slang, dated) To close a show.


MHA Nation

(US) The U.S.-based Native American nation formed by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara American Indian tribes, and their Amerindian reservation.


(Canada, US, journalism) Indicates the end of a story, article, or press release that is submitted for editing and typesetting.


lo mein loophole

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-lo mein loophole.wav

"Lo Mein Loophole: How U.S. Immigration Law Fueled A Chinese Restaurant Boom [...] Some Chinese business owners in the U.S. could get special merchant visas that allowed them to travel to China, and bring back employees. Only a few types of businesses qualified for this status. In 1915, a federal court added restaurants to that list. Voila! A restaurant boom was born."

2016 February 22, “Lo Mein Loophole: How U.S. Immigration Law Fueled A Chinese Restaurant Boom”, in National Public Radio, retrieved 2023-06-18:

(US, historical) A loophole in early-1900s American immigration law that allowed Chinese people to enter the country if they managed a Chinese restaurant, resulting in a greater-than-average increase of those establishments over several decades.


sweet mother of pearl

Of unknown origins. Attested from the late 19th century.
Presumably a euphemism for sweet mother of God or sweet mother of Jesus, using mother-of-pearl.

(chiefly US, dated) Good gracious; good heavens.


moon pie

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-moon pie.wav

(US) A confection consisting of two round graham crackers, with marshmallow filling, dipped in a flavored coating.


turkey coma

(US, humorous, hyperbolic) A period of sleepiness induced by eating Thanksgiving turkey.

en:Postprandial somnolence#Turkey and tryptophan


Thud

The aircraft with the most threatening mission and highest loss rate was the F-105 Thunderchief. Of 833 "Thuds" built, 382 were lost between 1965-1972.

2002, US Naval Academy Class of 1954, 2nd edition:

The F-105 Thunderchief was already the air force's workhorse in Vietnam, flying three-quarters of Rolling Thunder sorties and suffering the highest casualties. […] We do know Thuds were very fast, could take a beating, and packed a big punch.

2014, John McCain, Mark Salter, Thirteen Soldiers: A Personal History of Americans at War, page 255:

(US, military, dated slang) Republic F-105 Thunderchief jet ground attack fighter.


can house

I'm … lined up with a can house, and get my split on anybody I bring there. … The next time you boys want a girl, let me bring you there.

1934, James T. Farrell, chapter 13, in The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan:

(US, mainly Chicago, slang) A brothel, bordello.


lapel pin

Coordinate term: button

(US) A simple accessory that can be attached to clothing with a pin or fastener, often round and bearing a design, logo or message, and used for decoration, identification or to show political affiliation, etc.


trackwoman

(US, rail transport) A female railway employee who inspects and maintains the permanent way of a railway installation.


charge account

Coordinate term: debit account

(US) A type of credit facility provided by a bank or store, to which goods and services purchased can be charged, allowing the customer to defer payment until a later date.


hard R

Sugar Cookies would probably rate a 'hard-R' today, but six years ago it got an X, made a brief appearance on the 42nd Street porno circuit, and disappeared without a trace.

1979 January 11, Berkeley Art Museum, Pacific Film Archive, “Sugar Cookies”, in Program archive:

For a "soft R" like "Four Weddings and a Funeral," which features a smattering of profanity, a theater might check identifications only lightly. But it will turn tough for a "hard R" like Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers," one of the most violent movies of recent years.

1996 February 18, Trip Gabriel, “The Ratings Game At the Cineplex”, in The New York Times, page Section 2, Page 1:

I believe we'll hear later from the movie industry's lobbyist, Mr. Valenti, that not all "R"s are really "R"s. More specifically, and I quote from Mr. Valenti's written testimony: "Some R-rated are hard "R"s and some are soft "R"s."

2003, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Marketing Violence to Children: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Second Session, September 13, 2000, page 51:

A HARD R rating would seem to be between “R” — which has meant restricted to adults, because of various elements — and “NC-17.”

2018 July 28, Caitlin Lovinger, “Three in One; Will Nediger’s puzzle breaks it down for us, in a funny way.”, in DAILY CROSSWORD COLUMN, The New York Times:

(US, film) a movie that is intentionally written to be R-rated ("Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.") by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), typically due to having multiple scenes of violence or nudity.


Hoover hog

Herbert Hoover + hog, because impoverished people were reduced to (and Hoover himself may have suggested) eating such animals during the Great Depression which Hoover presided over the start of.

Sometimes living on rabbits and squirrels , they described their fare as Hoover hogs. The President's rigid stand on the relief issue widened the gap between the Old Guard and the insurgents in the Republican party, and his differences with ...

1971, Richard Brandon Morris, William Greenleaf, Robert H. Ferrell, America: a History of the People:

[It] rises . . . a jackrabbit. A Hoover hog, long-eared, light in the front legs, strong in the rear. The jack stretches his heels and takes the hill in a few bounds. When last seen, he is heading east.

"Some folks are lonesome all their life and some are hungry . We ain't ever needed to eat a Hoover hog (an opossum) since we come to the Creek.” With humor , Bernie lamented that the only thing missing in his life was a new pickup truck.

1993, The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature:

"It's a Hoover hog!" "Give it here," said Simeon Vear. Jimmy started to pick up the entire trap." Just the animal." Jimmy pushed his hand into the trap. "Don't," I said. "Let him," said Simeon Vear. "Got him," said Jimmy. He pulled the nervous rabbit […]

“[You don't have] to eat anything I fix again if you don't want to,” Jason McTavish spat. “I was surprised as everyone when Howard choked. That steak wasn't tougher than normal — for antelope.” “ If you'd stewed up a Hoover hog instead of that stringy[…]”

2007, Ken Hodgson, The Man Who Killed Shakespeare, ME: Five Star, →ISBN:

Aunt Cora, Mom's sister, always seemed to have rabbits or squirrels—Hoover hogs, she called them—or a greasy ole' barbecued raccoon for supper.

2010, Carroll Osburn, The Edge of the Wedge: Recollections of a Reluctant Prodigal, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 23:

“We'e gonna catch us a Hoover Hog, s'first thing,” said Carl. “A Hoover Hog? What's a Hoover Hog?” “You ain't never heard of a Hoover Hog? You'll see,” said Carl. They trudged along, keeping the conversation to a minimum, […]

2013, W. Jeff Bishop, A Cold Coming, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 215:

(US, especially Southern US) An animal which is eaten by poor people during hard times, especially an armadillo or jackrabbit, but also a possum or squirrel.


Hoover wagon

Herbert Hoover, US president at the start of the Great Depression, + wagon.

The Americans had Hoover Wagons, which were engineless or permanently out-of-gas automobiles drawn by mules or horses. The Canadian name was Bennett Buggies.

1961, Ralph Allen, Ordeal by Fire: Canada, 1910-1945, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday:

During that time Hoover wagons and Hoover buggies were known as the standard of quality throughout this area.

1990, Roy M. Davis, Paw Paw River Times & People:

"Hoover wagons" were old cars pulled by horses since their owners could no longer pay for gasoline. The way things are going, we may be seeing Hoover wagons again before long.

(US, chiefly historical) A broken-down or permanently out-of-gas car pulled by a horse, chiefly in the US during the Great Depression.


Hoover blanket

Herbert Hoover, US president at the start of the Great Depression, + blanket.

The shantytowns where homeless thousands dwelled were called Hoovervilles; newspapers used as blankets by men who were forced to sleep on park benches were Hoover blankets; a pocket turned inside out was a Hoover flag […]

1993, Joseph Robert Conlin, A survey of American history since 1865, →ISBN:

The newly unemployed stood in breadlines and slept on park benches under Hoover blankets made of newspaper.

2005, Rosemarie Ostler, Dewdroppers, Waldos, and Slackers: A Decade-by-Decade Guide to the Vanishing Vocabulary of the Twentieth Century, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 47:

Poverty became a way of life for 40 million Americans as laid off workers roamed the streets sleeping under Hoover 'blankets' - old newspapers. By 1933 the number of unemployed would mount to between 13 and 15 million […]

2006, Barbara Bennett Peterson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Preserver of Spirit and Hope, Nova Science Pub Incorporated

Hoovervilles dotted the American landscape, men slept under newspapers or "Hoover blankets," and kept the money they did't have in turned-out pockets […]

2012, L.M. Sutter, Arlie Latham: A Baseball Biography of the Freshest Man on Earth, McFarland, →ISBN, page 231:

... country—who were out of work, penniless, embarrassed, immobilized in sheer desperation, standing slumped, hollow-eyed, in long breadlines, begging or selling apples, sleeping under frayed overcoats or under Hoover blankets on streets ...

2012, Susan Dunn, Roosevelt's Purge, Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 42:

[Even witnessing people] hollow-eyed, in breadlines that stretched block after block, covering themselves at night with newspapers they called “Hoover blankets,” the president was stunningly unwilling to reach out to desperate Americans.

2013, Susan Dunn, 1940: FDR, Willkie, Lindbergh, Hitler—the Election amid the Storm, Yale University Press, →ISBN:

People who spent the night on park benches covered by newspapers said they were sleeping under “Hoover blankets.”

2013, Walter F. LaFeber, Richard Polenberg, Nancy Woloch, The American Century, M.E. Sharpe, →ISBN, page 150:

"Or living under a Hoover blanket in Central Park. A whole lot of folks there at night. Cold. Scary." "A Hoover blanket?" I was confused. He laughed. "Cardboard."

2018, Ed Ifkovic, Mood Indigo, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN:

(US, dated, especially during the Depression) Old newspaper or cardboard, used by a homeless person to cover themselves for warmth.


Hoover flag

Herbert Hoover, US president at the start of the Great Depression, + flag.

But drawing from my pants an old Hoover flag left over from my father's failed youth, I see I lack the least smudge of a penny to pay salvation's cover charge [...] with. So I begin circling the block drunkenly, in a holding pattern, [...]

1982, Everette Maddox, The Everette Maddox Songbook, NEW ORLEANS POETRY JOURNAL, →ISBN, page 39:

[…] the Great Depression - the old guy had gone around with his Hoover Flags door to door. They'd pledged to each other one night by the railroad station, taken vows over a bottle of Wild Turkey, just the first wonderful sip, to die together, to […]

Bull's Eye pretends he's a hobo, pulling out his Hoover flags, empty pockets turned inside out. Sometimes for a joke he covers himself with Hoover blankets, his newspapers. When it's hot he sits on his bed with nothing on at all, […]

2009, Barbara Kingsolver, The Lacuna, Faber & Faber, →ISBN, page 134:

But he flew no “Hoover flags,” pockets inside-out, and the slip of paper the editor at the World had given him had led to the job behind the soda fountain in Brooklyn.

2009, D. C. Riechel, German Departures, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 192:

the angry voice yelled, “Let's fly the Hoover flag!” A band of ragged men ran into the street in front of the limousine and pulled their pockets inside out. The crowd around Alma gasped. The ragged men thumbed their noses at the limousine.

2014, Joyce Van Haren, On Woodward, Abbott Press, →ISBN, page 114:

(US, dated, especially during the Depression) An empty (penniless) pocket, turned inside out, showing that someone has no money.


sumbuck

(US, regional, euphemistic) son of a bitch


trimethaphan

/tɹaɪˈmɛθ.əˌfæn/

(pharmacology, US) Alternative form of trimetaphan.


trimethaphan camsylate

trimetaphan camsilate
trimetaphan camsilate#English

(pharmacology, US) Alternative form of trimetaphan camsilate.


Kaiser blade

Kaiser blades (plural)
kaiser blade (alternative)

He let the Kaiser blade slip down into his palm. It felt good there, the well worn handle intimately comfortable in his calloused hand. His blood tricked down the haft and flowed across the slightly curved, upturned blade.

1864, Brannon Hollingsworth, Prelude to Okolona, Four Fools Press, page 18

On the flat the planting was done in narrow lanes cut through the dense brush, weeds, and vines with "Kaiser" blades (large ditch-bank blades or brush hooks). On the other two sites the entire planting area was cleared with Kaiser blades after the trees were removed.

1937 (reprinted 1941), Southern Forest Experiment Station (New Orleans, La.), Occasional Paper - Southern Forest Experiment Station, page 3

... a shirt tail in a wind; and the guards ape-like body toppled backward and lay anesthetized and unconscious on the floor. The Choctaw raised his unchained right heel and hacked it down across the guards chest, striking like a Kaiser blade, ...

2001, Jerry Lee Bustin, To Kill a Viper, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 258:

What had been a trusty sluff job was now as onerous as swinging a Kaiser blade or shoveling out ditches. As soon as he'd hauled the buckets back to the cage truck it was time to go again.

2013, Ron Rash, Nothing Gold Can Stay: Stories, Harper Collins, →ISBN:

(US, especially Mississippi) Synonym of sling blade.


robin snow

robin snows (plural)
robin's snow (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-robin snow.wav

Though it was the last of March, there was a "robin snow" falling outside, and Mr. Winslow was believed by his family to have a weak throat, though he never manifested any signs of such weakness.

1893, Maria Louise Pool, Dally, page 25:

[page 290:] Observed the track of a squirrel in the snow under one of the apple trees on the southeast side of the Hill, andl, looking up, saw a red squirrel with a nut or piece of frozen apple […] Snowed again last night, as it has done once or twice before within ten days without my recording it, — robin snows, which last but a day or two.
[page 462:] He says that the most snow we have had this winter (it has not been more than one inch deep) has been only a “robin snow,” as it is called, i.e. a snow which does not drive off the robins.

[page 68:] Instead, they lay there dead, covering all things a half-inch deep with soft bodies of purest white, and we looked forth in the morning and said that there had been a robin-snow. It is a pity that those gentle, innocent gray-blue spring mists should […]
[page 69:] A few more robin-snows and they will all be out. Very likely somewhere a dandelion, some sturdy, rough-and-ready youngster, quivered into yellow florescence at the caress. Robin-snows and the cajoling sun of the last week of March often ...

After a half-hour or so they fall again like a "robin snow" in spring and resume their feeding, white dots on the olive-brown of the long miles of saw grass that stretch away to the everglades horizon.

1941, Nature Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly with Popular Articles about Nature, page 219:

After a robin snow in May, George Shefton went to Denver and so Milton and Stevie set out on the road again, three shoes and a worn pipe-end on the dashboard while Dump and Dolly switched their lazy tails over the lines […]

1947, Mari Sandoz, The Tom-walker: A New Novel:

We had another February snow — a robin snow which came in the night and was gone before noon.

In an earlier day, a snow that fell in April was called a “robin snow.” It was said to draw the last frost from the ground and bring the earthworms to the surface. This white incursion is gratefully brief.

1977, Lew Dietz, Night Train at Wiscasset Station:

(US, dialectal, especially New England and New York) A light, brief snow.


douchehole

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-douchehole.wav

Blend of douchebag + asshole; possibly originated as a euphemism.

(Canada, US, slang, derogatory, humorous) An obnoxious person; a jerk.


Southie

(US, slang) South Boston, Massachusetts.


compatibilize

compatibilize (third-person singular simple present compatibilizes, present participle compatibilizing, simple past and past participle compatibilized)

compatibilizes (present singular third-person)
compatibilizing (participle present)
compatibilized (participle past)
compatibilized (past)
compatibilise (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-compatibilize.wav

(transitive, US, informal, computer science) To make compatible.


slice shop

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-slice shop.wav

(US) A shop selling individual slices of pizza.


darn it

Darn it, my dad didn't get eggnog!

(chiefly US, informal, minced oath) An expression used to show displeasure. A less emphatic, less profane version of damnit.


hazmat suit

Los Angeles is under permanent lockdown, and daily health checks are mandatory, the sick carted off to the ominous Q-Zone by armed sanitation workers in yellow hazmat suits.

2020 December 10, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “The first movie inspired by the pandemic is here, and it sucks”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 2020-12-21:

[…] put on your face mask, douse your entire body with hand sanitizer and then — to be safe — don a hazmat suit

2020 December, Dave Barry, Year in review:

(US) An impermeable suit covering the entire body to protect from biological or chemical hazards.


Jericho walk

Ever since we came , we have been aware of student groups who regularly conducted Jericho walks (some call them Joshua walks). They walk around campus and encircle dormitories […]

1995, Timothy Ken Beougher, Accounts of a Campus Revival: Wheaton College, 1995, page 86:

In addition to the fast, God called those men and myself to a Jericho Walk for our city. We began at 8 P.M. one Friday night and walked the 610 Loop around downtown Houston, about a 40-mile walk.

2001, Doug Stringer, Somebody Cares: A Guide to Living Out Your Faith:

(US, Christianity) A form of protest in which people walk seven times around a significant location.


SCIF

State Compensation Insurance Fund
w:State Compensation Insurance Fund

(US) Initialism of State Compensation Insurance Fund.


Suncoast

(US) Peninsular Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastal counties.


FDLE

(US) Initialism of Florida department of law enforcement.


testilie

testilie (third-person singular simple present testilies, present participle testilying, simple past and past participle testilied)

testilies (present singular third-person)
testilying (participle present)
testilied (participle past)
testilied (past)

Blend of testify + lie. Possibly a back-formation from the noun testilying, which appeared a few years earlier and is more common.

In Manhattan, grand jury prosecutors are urged to interview police officers separately if there is any possibility they may be fabricating evidence or about to testilie.

1999 January, Larry Cunningham, “Taking on Testilying”, in Criminal Justice Ethics, volume 18, →DOI, pages 26–40:

Higher rank officers in New York advocated that those officers who testilied should not be prosecuted because testilying was a police tradition.

2007, Jack R. Greene, “Courtroom testimony and ‘testilying’”, in The Encyclopedia of Police Science, volume 1, page 274:

(US, law, informal, euphemistic) To commit perjury (as a police officer).


CISA

w:en:Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

(US, government, computing, security) Acronym of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.


cavallard

cavallards (plural)
caballard (alternative)
cavayard (alternative)
cavyyard (alternative)

Far as the eye could reach the land was all his own; immense herds of cattle and cavallards of horses roamed over the hills; and the rich bottom-lands yielded him fabulous harvests of corn and cotton.

1876, Amelia E. Barr, Romances and Realities: Tales of Truth and Fancy, page 35:

The stallion guards his cavallard with a jealous eye, and allows no interference from other horses, and often he battles so ferociously with any and all intruders, that when the owner or herdsman approaches, he is compelled to used stones and other missiles before the stallion allows him to enter the range over which he holds supreme jurisdiction.

1877, Henry Smythe, Historical Sketch of Parker County and Weatherford, Texas, page 336:

(US, obsolete) A group of horses or mules.


jacklighting

A Pennsylvania man was charged with jacklighting, allegedly shining his truck headlights onto a police deer decoy.

2019 December 12, Maryland Department of Natural Resources press releasehttps://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2019/12/12/police-deer-decoy-struck-by-suspect/

(hunting, US, Canada) The action of the verb to jacklight; the act of illuminating an animal for the purpose of hunting.


Mexican car wash

en-noun

Mexican car wash (plural Mexican car washes)

[…] and they could hear the rough sound, could hear too the first strikes of rain as though called down by the music.
"My car's gonna get a Mexican car wash," said Buddy.

(US, slang, humorous) The "washing" of a motor vehicle by a rainstorm.


missile gap

Coordinate term: bomber gap

(US, military, historical) The perceived superiority during the Cold War of the number and power of the USSR's missiles in comparison with those of the United States.


bomber gap

Coordinate term: missile gap

(US, military, historical) The perceived superiority during the Cold War of the USSR's ability to deploy jet-powered strategic bombers.


T-man

(US, informal) An agent of the treasury department.


top-hat pension

top-hat pension (plural top-hat pensions)

(US) An unfunded pension maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees.


savings and loan

savings and loan (plural savings and loans)

Sure, if we own an aerospace contracting company, a five-thousand-acre sugar-beet farm, or a savings and loan with the president's son on the board of directors, we can soak Uncle Sucker for millions.

2015, P. J. O'Rourke, Thrown Under the Omnibus: A Reader:

building society
building society#English

(US, finance) Synonym of building society.


chow mein bun

From chow mein + bun. Coined in the 1930s, having been invented in Massachusetts, and then spread throughout North America's Americanized Chinese cuisine culture, and Americanized Jewish culture.

(US, Canada, cooking) A Chinese-American food, a hamburger bun filled with chow mein and slathered with a brown sauce.


country captain

Disputed. Perhaps because it was introduced by a naval captain; perhaps from capon.

(US) A curried chicken and rice dish of the Southern United States, often with currants and almonds.


fine and dandy like sour candy

en-adj

fine and dandy like sour candy (not comparable)

GEORGE BUSH: Well, howdily doodily yourself, there, Ned. This is my wife Barbara. I call her Bar. Would you like some lemonade?
NED: Tip top notch!
GEORGE BUSH: Okily dokily!
NED: Thankily dankily!
GEORGE BUSH: Scrump-diddley-eriffic!
BOTH: Fine and dandy like sour candy!

1996, The Simpsons (animated TV series), "Two Bad Neighbors" (season 7 episode 13)

We had a nice chat, yes we did, and I think they're fine and dandy like sour candy,” she said, giving them a knowing smile, “Did you find out much from your computa-ma-web?”

2014, Jeremy Tyrrell, Adaptation (part 3, page 114)

Then, with my consent, they politely show me their scars/scabs and we do the hug and the photo and everything is fine and dandy like sour candy.

2016, Hannah Hart, Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded:

(Canada, US, informal, simile) Synonym of fine and dandy


LSST

(US, military, law) Abbreviation of Legal Services Support Team.


sophomore slump

en-noun

sophomore slump (plural sophomore slumps)

(Canada, US) The situation where a second effort fails to live up to the relatively high standards of the first.


assholishness

(vulgar, Canada, US, informal) The quality of being assholish.


streatery

streateries (plural)
streetery (alternative)

Innovative solutions combine private and individual with commercial uses, as shown in 'streateries' in Seattle. Streateries convert a few on-street parking places into open spaces, similar to parklets. While parklets are open for public use 24 hours a day, streateries provide additional space for restaurants to serve customers during their hours of operation.

2019, Bianca Maria Rinaldi, Puay Yok Tan, Urban Landscapes in High-Density Cities: Parks, Streetscapes, Ecosystems, Birkhäuser, →ISBN, page 111:

(US, food) An on-street outdoor dining establishment, frequently under a tent, umbrella, or awning with heaters.


form book

(US, law) A binder of loose-leaf forms, or a book containing specimens of such forms, for use by attorneys in their work.


expansion team

(sports, chiefly Canada, US) A new team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, formed with the intention of satisfying the local population's demand for a local team.


buck general

(US, military slang) A brigadier general.


RMD

RMD (countable and uncountable, plural RMDs)

required minimum distribution
w:required minimum distribution

(countable, US, finance) Initialism of required minimum distribution.


mean white

A mean white would be acutely reminded of his own shabby status upon encountering a slave like Northup, […]

2019, William L. Andrews, Slavery and Class in the American South, page 186:

poor white trash
poor white trash#English

(US, obsolete, ethnic slur, used by black slaves) Synonym of poor white trash (“a white person of low social status”)


campus carry

(US) The practice of carrying a firearm on a college or university campus.


lamewad

(Canada, US, slang, derogatory) A lame or uncool person.


glass parking lot

A wide range of explosives can convert sand into glass upon detonation, as a temperate of only 1700 Celsius is required. The most recognized generation process was through nuclear testing with the discovery of (Trinitite), but other munition are capable of the same result, without implying the use of a nuclear attack.

[…]it is common for Americans to respond with the convictions that "they wouldn't dare" and "we'll turn them into a glass parking lot" (that is, we'll attack them with nuclear weapons until there is nothing left of them).

2015, Brad Roberts, The Case for U.S. Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century:

(US, informal) Total destruction in the aftermath of a nuclear attack.


g'wan

(US, colloquial, Caribbean) Contraction of go on.


choreboy

Coordinate term: chorewoman

(US, regional) A young man employed to carry out chores.


chorewoman

Coordinate term: choreboy

(US, regional) A woman employed to carry out chores.


aship

[…] it was certainly one of the most exciting and uncomfortable weeks I ever spent, either aship or ashore.

1880, Mark Twain, chapter 17, in A Tramp Abroad, Hartford, CT: American Publishing Company, page 154:

then the stern line was thrown aship, and the boat was off

1912, Charles E. Young, chapter 6, in Dangers of the Trail in 1865, Geneva, NY: Press of W.F. Humphrey, page 116:


en-proper-noun

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints#English

(US, religion, Christianity) Alternative form of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


code grey

(Canada, US, medicine) The condition where violence or aggression is observed, normally in cases where no weapon is involved.

code black • code blue • code brown • code grey • code orange • code pink • code red • code silver • code white • code yellow


throw a wrench in the works

en-verb

throw<,,threw,thrown> a wrench in the works

throw a wrench in the works (third-person singular simple present throws a wrench in the works, present participle throwing a wrench in the works, simple past threw a wrench in the works, past participle thrown a wrench in the works)

throws a wrench in the works (present singular third-person)
throwing a wrench in the works (participle present)
threw a wrench in the works (past)
thrown a wrench in the works (participle past)
throw a wrench into the works (alternative)

throw a spanner in the works
throw a spanner in the works#English

(idiomatic, US) Synonym of throw a spanner in the works.


throw a wrench in

throw a wrench in (third-person singular simple present throws a wrench in, present participle throwing a wrench in, simple past threw a wrench in, past participle thrown a wrench in)

throws a wrench in (present singular third-person)
throwing a wrench in (participle present)
threw a wrench in (past)
thrown a wrench in (participle past)

The pandemic is also weighing on preparations, with election administrations hyperaware that Covid cases could throw a wrench in their plans at the last minute.

2020 December 28, Zach Montellaro, “Georgia election admins battle Covid and conspiracies ahead of Senate runoffs”, in Politico:

(idiomatic, US) To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle in; to complicate.


alphabet boy

(US, slang) A man who works for a government agency, such as the CIA, FBI or IRS.


get religion

get religion (third-person singular simple present gets religion, present participle getting religion, simple past got religion, past participle (US) gotten religion or (UK) got religion)

gets religion (present singular third-person)
getting religion (participle present)
got religion (past)
gotten religion (US participle past)
got religion (UK participle past)

(US, informal) To become convinced of something, usually to a fanatic degree.


NSSE

(US) Initialism of national special security event.


firecan

When the firecan jockeys have flown their blowtorches some 100,000 miles, the doctors take over for the ground physical.

1949, Popular Science, volume 155, number 6, page 120:


sex reveal

Newly released footage shows a sex reveal in Australia taking a turn for the worse when a car doing burnouts burst into flames on April 14, 2018. [video caption]

2019 July 10, Antonia Noori Farzan, “‘Use a bit of common sense’: A gender-reveal party stunt ends with a car erupting in flames”, in The Washington Post:

(chiefly US, often attributive) Synonym of gender reveal.


uniparty

[ˈjuːnɪˌpʰɑɹɾi]

Trump will never be part of the uniparty because he may be the first American politician to successfully run against it as a foil.

2020, Matt Gaetz, Firebrand: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution:

While the power in the party still resided with those most compromised by the DC uniparty and who rarely challenged the ruling oligarchic elites, there were hints of a new America First Caucus being formed in the House that was committed to policies that challenged the bipartisan status quo.

But the moment they got the slightest traction with all the good ideas they had in tow, the uniparty swung into action. Neither Republicans nor Democrats dared allow anyone not willing to play by the new rules to win.

2023, Floyd G. Brown, Counterpunch, page 20:

(US, politics, derogatory) Multiple political parties that have a shared vision which tends to uphold the same powerful elite regardless of party affiliation.


dual phenomenology

(US, military) The requirement for an incoming nuclear attack to be confirmed by both satellite and radar before retaliatory action is taken.


rug joint

(Canada, US, slang) Synonym of carpet joint


carpet joint

Coordinate term: sawdust joint

Most of the carpet joints were run by the mobsters and local henchmen associated with the Mayfield Road Gang, but Peter Schmidt's Playtorium and Glenn Rendezvous were also included.

2014, Paul A. Tenkotte, James C. Claypool, The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky, page 385:

(Canada, US, slang) An attractive casino with decorative carpets, etc.


lumberwood

(Canada, US, chiefly in the plural) A forest from which wood is cut.


VPD

V.P.D. (alternative)
V. P. D. (alternative)

Police Department
police department#English

(law enforcement) Initialism of Vancouver Police Department.

(US) The police service of the city of Vancouver, in the State of Washington, USA.


run for the exercise

run for the exercise (third-person singular simple present runs for the exercise, present participle running for the exercise, simple past ran for the exercise, past participle run for the exercise)

runs for the exercise (present singular third-person)
running for the exercise (participle present)
ran for the exercise (past)
run for the exercise (participle past)

A pun on two senses of run: to run for election and to travel quickly on foot.

[I]f Rockefeller wanted to run for the exercise, [Democrats] reasoned, let him kill himself off and clear the way for a more regular Republican in the next election.

1959, Candidates 1960 "xxx", Nelson. A Rockefeller, page 53

BENTSEN: SAYS HE WON'T RUN "FOR THE EXERCISE"
"Asked about the 1992 presidential race, Bentsen said he would not run as a sacrificial lamb so that the [Dems] would have a credible candidate and avoid a humiliating defeat"

1991, The Hotline, volume 4, numbers 127-148, page 3:

(simile, US, colloquial, politics) To run for political office with little chance of success.


ruptured duck

(US military, slang) The Honorable Service Lapel Button, a military award bearing the image of an eagle.


blessed assurance

en-noun

blessed assurance (plural blessed assurances)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-blessed assurance.wav

/ˈblɛsɪd əˈʃʊɹəns/

From blessed + assurance, in reference to the 1873 hymn “Blessed Assurance”, with the second element taken as a minced oath for ass.

I'm just going to sit here on my blessed assurance until Jesus comes.

(euphemistic, US Southern) buttocks, ass.


lameass

(Canada, US, slang, derogatory) An uncool person; a dork.


slugburger

From slug + -burger, perhaps from slug (“counterfeit coin used in vending machines”).

(US, Mississippi) A burger with a deep-fried patty made from a mixture of beef or pork and an inexpensive extender such as soybeans.


Fauci ouchie

Named after Anthony Fauci (born 1940), chief medical advisor to US president Joe Biden since 2021. Chosen for the rhyme, ouchie because a vaccine injection may be painful.

Meanwhile… some people are lining up to get their “Fauci Ouchie.” CNN reports: “Vaxxies” are the new selfies…taken with a needle in your arm. In the CNN clip, we see Biden, Harris, Pence, and Fauci given the vaccine.

2021 January 9, Mary Pearson, “Covid-19 Vaccine”, in Co-op City Times, volume 56, number 2, page 8:

To Joey Gilbert, a Reno criminal trial attorney, former professional boxer and now one of a dozen (and counting) Republican candidates for governor, COVID-19 vaccination shots are still “Fauci ouchies,” masks are “face diapers,” and actions Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak undertook to fight the pandemic were, and remain, “criminal.”

2022 March 11, Bill Dentzer, “‘Trump from the jump:’ Reno lawyer and ex-boxer fights to become governor”, in Las Vegas Review-Journal:

The new ideas face scientific, developmental, manufacturing, financial and regulatory hurdles, and must clear clinical trials. But the government would be wise to do everything possible to help. The Fauci “ouchie” was just short of a miracle. Now, we need another.

2022 July 27, “The Fauci ‘ouchie’ was a near miracle. We need another.”, in The Washington Post:

(US, slang, humorous) A COVID-19 vaccination.

Anthony Fauci
Chief Medical Advisor to the President
Joe Biden


SISEA

(law, US) Acronym of Stop Internet Sexual Exploitation Act.


CADR

Clean air delivery rate
w:Clean air delivery rate

(US) Initialism of Clean air delivery rate, a measure of cleaned air from air purifiers.


poncho liner

(US, military) An item of field equipment, made from quilted nylon with a polyester filling, that can be attached to a standard-issue poncho to provide additional warmth, or used alone as a blanket, sleeping bag or protective cover.


wacky cake

wacky cake (countable and uncountable, plural wacky cakes)

(US) A spongy, cocoa-based cake made from a batter without eggs, butter, or milk.


crazy cake

crazy cake (countable and uncountable, plural crazy cakes)


Black Joe cake

Black Joe cake (countable and uncountable, plural Black Joe cakes)

(US) A kind of Pennsylvania Dutch cake made with cocoa and strong black coffee.


Rocks and Shoals

From the language of Article 4, Section 10, which prescribed the death penalty for "any person in the naval service...[who] intentionally or willfully suffers any vessel of the Navy to be stranded, or run upon rocks or shoals".

(US, naval, informal, historical) The Articles for the Government of the United States Navy.


fairness doctrine

(US, broadcasting, historical) A policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949 and abolished in 1987, requiring the holders of broadcast licenses (i) to present controversial issues of public importance and (ii) to do so in an honest, equitable and balanced manner.


coonshit

If your brains was coonshit, you couldn't find a hackberry seed.

It was utter banal coonshit, and we loved to read it aloud.

2001, Judy H. Tucker, Charline R. McCord, Christmas Stories from Mississippi, page 94:

(slang, vulgar, Canada, US) Synonym of bullshit (“nonsense; rubbish”)


squad bay

(US, military) A barracks for junior members of the Marine Corps.


short pants

You can be young enough to wear short pants or old enough to hide your opponents' shoes with your beard over a disputed point.


adjustment center

adjustment center (plural adjustment centers)

(US) Part of a prison used for the segregation and isolation of difficult prisoners.


in short pants

From an early 20th century practice of reserving short pants only for small children.

Dr. Smith said a moment ago that we are scientifically adult but spiritually in short pants.

1948, Albert Craig Baird, Lester Thonssen, Waldo Warder Braden, Owen Peterson, Representative American Speeches:


gumbah

(US, slang) Alternative form of goombah (“close friend or associate, especially among Italian-American men”)


garbage patch

(chiefly US, Canada, Australia) A piece of land used for dumping rubbish.


vo-tech

(Canada, US) A high school offering vocational and technical training.


darktown

But I get such strong impressions of your hey day / Looking up and down old Beale Street / Ghosts of the darktown society / Come right out of the bricks at me

1976, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “Furry Sings The Blues”, in Hejira:

(US, dated) An African-American area of a city, especially in the American South.


walk-alone

(US) A prison inmate who is kept apart from the other prisoners for their own safety.


clusterberry

clusterberries (plural)
red clusterberry (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-clusterberry.wav

(US) Cotoneaster lacteus syn. Cotoneaster parneyi


marking gage

(US) Alternative spelling of marking gauge


in limine

Unadapted borrowing from Latin in līmine (literally “in the threshold”).

ubor

(chiefly US, law) At the beginning, as a preliminary matter; specifically, before a particular procedure or proceeding takes place.


in limine

(chiefly US, law, of a motion, hearing, ruling, etc.) Pertaining to a request made at the start of a trial that the judge rule that certain evidence may not be introduced in a trial; most common in criminal trials where evidence is subject to constitutional limitations, such as statements made without Miranda warnings.


honky-tonker

honky-tonkers (plural)
honky tonker (alternative)

To a redneck honky-tonker, nothing beats a dozen cold beers, a bloody fight and a woman usually in that order.

1977, Bill AuCoin, Redneck, Greatlakes Living Press, →ISBN, page 22:

In 1952 she signed with Decca Records and turned out a hit that settled her in as the reigning queen of country music and a prototypical honky tonker—“It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”

1986, Charles T. Brown, Music U.S.A.: America's Country & Western Tradition, Prentice Hall, page 76:

(US, informal) Someone who runs or frequents a honky-tonk, or performs in one.


absque dubio

From Latin absque (“without”) + dubiō (“doubt”).

(chiefly US, law) Without doubt; used in pleadings where a statement needs no proof.


slopshoot

I stopped by the slopshoot and had a couple of beers before going to the barracks and hitting the sack.

2000, John R. Hull, Takeoff: Career Adventures in General Aviation and the FAA, page 72:

(US, military, slang) A drinking establishment.


stagger soup

(Canada, US, slang) whisky (the alcoholic drink)


SSJ

(US, business) Initialism of sole source justification.


all hat and no cowboy

In reference to cattle ranchers and the hats they stereotypically wear.

Don't waste your time with him - he's all hat and no cowboy.

(US, idiomatic) Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.


Lady Presidentress

en-noun

Lady Presidentress (plural Lady Presidentresses)

(US, politics, obsolete) Former name of First Lady (of the United States).


Republican Queen

Republican Queen (plural Republican Queens)

From republican + queen. From the United States being a republic, and queens being the martial consort of the leader of a kingdom (a king), where the US had recently became independent from such an entity (Great Britain, under King George); thus terming the consort of the male president a form of queen.

United States of America
United States of America#English

(US, politics, obsolete) Former name of First Lady (of the United States of America).; FLOTUS.


ten-shun

Company, 'ten-shun—(More violently.) 'ten-shun, please... (He draws himself up exaggeratedly.) Stand straight, like soldiers!

1946, Harry Lester Baum, Prelude to Victory: A Masonic Play:

(US, military) Used to bring a marching band or group of soldiers to attention.


at-ten-shun

Respelling of attention to show the stress pattern.

"At-ten-shun !" commanded he, with that peculiar inflexion only attainable after considerable service.

1906, Joseph Edgar Crowell, The Young Volunteer: The Everyday Experiences of a Soldier Boy in the Civil War:

At-ten-SHUN! ¶ The United States Marine Corps wants your children.

2003, “Family Fare”, in The New York Times:


Sunday girl

Are you taking your Sunday girl to the dance?

Just as one is rounded, too late to entirely avoid it, is seen exactly at the turn a single chaise containing a youth and his Sunday girl.

In twenty-four hours the pot had filled to three dollars, and Charlie, who was going to town to see his Sunday girl, was delegated to subscribe to “some good newspaper.”

I've been waiting
A long time now
Now here's the answer
You're all mine now
Yeah, I've been waiting for my Sunday girl

1999, “Down”, performed by Stone Temple Pilots:


piggy move up

[The] burlesque broads from next door […] got bored in their dressing rooms. So they’d come out in the street and play baseball. […] They played piggy-move-up—softball.

1964, Saul Bellow, Herzog, New York: Viking, page 271:

He almost never thinks of the future, though he understands in an unformulated way that he will eventually grow up, will comb his hair back with water, and join the big boys in the back lane playing Piggy Move Up.

1993, Carol Shields, “Motherhood, 1947”, in The Stone Diaries, London: Harper Perennial, published 2005, page 170:

(US) An informal game of baseball or softball, without separate teams, in which players take turns playing the different positions.


move back

en-verb

move back (third-person singular simple present moves back, present participle moving back, simple past and past participle moved back)

moves back (present singular third-person)
moving back (participle present)
moved back (participle past)
moved back (past)

The report still hasn't been completed, so the meeting will have to be moved back again.

(transitive, US) To reschedule (something) to a later date or time.


low-profit limited liability company#English

(US, business) Initialism of low-profit limited liability company.


bracket buster

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-bracket buster.wav

(US, basketball, informal) An American college basketball team that unexpectedly defeats a higher-ranked team in a tournament.


union cemetery

en-noun

union cemetery (plural union cemeteries)

The house [Arlington House] became the headquarters of the Union Army. The cemetery was created in 1864 by Union Quartermaster Gen. Montgomery Meigs. Although born in Georgia, Meigs considered Lee a traitor and vowed to punish him by turning his beloved home into a Union cemetery.

2003 May 25, Randy Kraft, “Arlington held significance for Washington kin, Robert E. Lee”, in The Morning Call, retrieved 2021-03-10:

(US, when capitalized as "Union cemetery", with "Union" in an attributive proper noun sense) A cemetery principally for the interment of Union soldiers in the American Civil War.


union station

The Burlington had built a union station at the junction, but the Union Pacific refused to stop its trains there until it received an interest in the townsite.

1978 May, Alice Howell, “Railroads in Buffalo County”, in Buffalo Tales [a newsletter of the Buffalo County Historical Society, Buffalo County, Nebraska], volume 1, number 5, archived from the original on 2016-06-24:

(rail transport, US, Canada) A railroad station shared by more than one railroad company, usually to spread the costs and ease the logistics of serving a particular town by rail.


quawk

black-crowned night heron
black-crowned night heron

Nycticorax nycticorax
Nycticorax nycticorax#Translingual

(US) The black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax.


API donut

From API + donut; from American Petroleum Institute, and its shape.

(US, automotive) An information table found on cans of motor oil, conforming to U.S. standards, which indicates the weight (viscosity) and type of oil. The central circle provides the oil viscosity rating (ie. 10W50), while the upper annulus section provides the oil type (ie. SP).


parlor palm

parlor palms (plural)
parlour palm (alternative)

(US) A small palm tree often grown indoors, Chamaedorea elegans


oh my lanta

A play on Mylanta, a brand of over-the-counter drugs for digestive problems.

Shannon Gardner soon took the stage for her valedictorian speech after an introduction that described her as having a positive attitude which shone through in her speech.
“Oh my lanta, we made it y’all,” Gardner started her speech, leaving the audience laughing.

2019 May 27, Brittney Melton, “Southview graduates dared to take on future challenges”, in Statesville Record & Landmark:

(US, euphemistic, humorous) An exclamation of surprise, excitement or astonishment: oh my God!


trash truck

Trash truck coming up the road
Picking up the trash

2000, Mark O. Everett (lyrics and music), “Wooden Nickels”, in Daisies of the Galaxy, performed by Eels:


dandy as candy

(simile, informal, Canada, US) Perfectly fine or good.


microcook

en-verb

microcook (third-person singular simple present microcooks, present participle microcooking, simple past and past participle microcooked)

microcooks (present singular third-person)
microcooking (participle present)
microcooked (participle past)
microcooked (past)


ruinatious

en-adj

ruinatious (comparative more ruinatious, superlative most ruinatious)

more ruinatious (comparative)
most ruinatious (superlative)


splib

(US, dated, slang, chiefly African-American Vernacular) a fellow black person


locator outer marker

en-noun

locator outer marker (plural locator outer markers)

(aviation, chiefly US) A ground-based radio navigation aid consisting of a pair of colocated radio beacons at the final approach fix of an ILS or IGS approach course: an NDB to guide aircraft to the approach fix, and an outer marker to alert aircraft as they pass over the station.


plop down

en-verb

plop down (third-person singular simple present plops down, present participle plopping down, simple past and past participle plopped down)

plops down (present singular third-person)
plopping down (participle present)
plopped down (participle past)
plopped down (past)

I can't just plop down $50 for any old pair of jeans.


(US, military) Synonym of 4F (“military draftee rejected for being physically unfit”)


Queer

(chiefly US) Of or relating to the culture surrounding queer people.


minor in

minor in (third-person singular simple present minors in, present participle minoring in, simple past and past participle minored in)

minors in (present singular third-person)
minoring in (participle present)
minored in (participle past)
minored in (past)

(Canada, US, education) To study as or qualify in a subsidiary subject at college or university.


Jane Hancock

Coined as a female version of John Hancock.


stick it to

stick it to (third-person singular simple present sticks it to, present participle sticking it to, simple past and past participle stuck it to)

sticks it to (present singular third-person)
sticking it to (participle present)
stuck it to (participle past)
stuck it to (past)

(Canada, US, informal, idiomatic) To assert one's power in an attempt to get revenge or prove a point; to show who's boss.


my lands

Oh? At your age? Oh... the youth of today shock me... My lands...

1995, HAL Laboratory, EarthBound, Nintendo, Super Nintendo Entertainment System:

(chiefly US, somewhat dated and rustic) An expression of surprise or dismay.


dairy lunch

He wolfed down a sandwich and coffee from the dairy lunch across the street before hurrying back to work.

A newspaper man ran across the street the other day to a dairy lunch. He was in a hurry. He leaned against the marble counter and ordered a lamb stew.

1916 March 11, “Sense and Nonsense”, in Saturday Evening Post:

(historical, US) An establishment serving light, ready-made food and drink, such as sandwiches, soup, and donuts. Mostly limited to early 20th century US.


dairy bar

Biltmore Dairy Farms, a corporation, owned and operated a dairy bar at Lake Junaluska in Haywood County, where it sold milk shakes and sandwiches.

1966, North Carolina Reports: Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of North Carolina:

(nearly historical, US) A small establishment serving milk, milkshakes etc. and sometimes light food.


pass up like a white chip

pass up<passes up,passing up,passed up> like a white chip

pass up like a white chip (third-person singular simple present passes up like a white chip, present participle passing up like a white chip, simple past and past participle passed up like a white chip)

passes up like a white chip (present singular third-person)
passing up like a white chip (participle present)
passed up like a white chip (participle past)
passed up like a white chip (past)

In reference to white poker chips, which typically carried the lowest value. (Compare blue chip.)

As for Elmer, we didn't even kid him any more—just passed him up like a white chip.

1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:

(transitive, obsolete, US, simile) To reject or ignore; to treat as worthless.


Peacock Alley

Peacock Alleys (plural)
peacock alley (alternative)

Peacock Alley
Rupert Hughes
Waldorf–Astoria (1893–1929)

The main corridor connecting the two buildings comprising the Waldorf–Astoria was given this nickname by the press in New York City in reference to wealthy patrons (especially women) who would go there to show off their finery (compare peacock (“strut proudly”)). The name then came to refer generically to the foyer of any such upper-class hotel, or similar gathering place. First appears c. 1904 in Real New York by Rupert Hughes.

There was a lot of fool humbuggery about these plutocratic hang-outs, with their "peacock alleys" where women strutted to show their clothes,

1907, Daisy Fitzhugh Ayres, The Conquest:

To understand the new theatre audiences in New York, you need only stroll through the great hotels about dinner time. The very character of those who lounge in the Peacock Alleys and the glittering foyers has changed.

1918, Anna Steese Richardson, “Love, Looks or Laughter?”, in McClure's, volume 50, number 4:

(historical, US) Any hotel foyer or similar area where upper-class women congregate in order to be seen.


whitecapping

(US, historical) The vigilante actions carried out by whitecaps.


the double O

the double o (alternative)
the double-O (alternative)
the double-o (alternative)

By visual analogy with a pair of eyes or spectacles.

So then I and Bishop knocked the street-car service and President Wilson and give each other the double O.

1916, Ring W. Lardner, “Three Kings and a Pair”, in The Saturday Evening Post:

(obsolete, US, slang) A thorough look or inspection.


neat-freakery

Oskar's neat-freakery only made minuscule 'lapses' like that more noticeable. He had the assistance of a cleaner, of course. But how thorough was the cleaner? London was full of Eastern European women working as domestic cleaners, but I ...

2012, Will Wiles, Care of Wooden Floors, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 17:

need him right now, and his neat-freakery. I definitely don't want to move in with him. The man keeps all his shoes in labelled boxes according to their Pantone shade!” Zoë and I laughed out loud; well aware that Lauren was exaggerating, but the ...

2014, Sarah Clark, Viva Voluptuous, John Hunt Publishing, →ISBN:

He got up and grabbed his T-shirt from the neat pile on the chair beside the bed. When we first started dating, he'd toss his clothes onto the floor with abandon, but my neat-freakery has changed all that. "No." He held up a hand, one pant leg.

2016, C.L. Taylor, The Lie, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN:

(US, informal, rare) Obsessive tidiness or cleanliness; behavior characteristic of neat freaks.


obstetrician-gynecologist

obstetrician-gynecologists (plural)
OB-GYN (alternative)

The town had only one obstetrician-gynecologist.

(countable, medicine) A physician who is both an obstetrician and a gynecologist.

szülész-nőgyógyász

a physician who is both an obstetrician and a gynecologist


asked and answered

(US, law) A type of objection in which the same attorney continues to ask the same question but has already received an answer.


valpack

valpacks (plural)
Val-A-Pak (alternative)

(dated, US) A soft zip-up travelling bag


good as wheat in the bin

en-adj

good as wheat in the bin (not comparable)

Then write to any of the banks mentioned, to any rating agency, to any financial house, and they will tell you that here is an opportunity that is as good as wheat in the bin.

1917, Pearson's Magazine, volume 38, page 43:

He can get more potatoes on the strength of a telegram to some place or other than John D. Rockefeller can get on collateral, for everybody knows The Sky's word is as good as wheat in the bin.

1989, David Wheeler, No, But I Saw the Movie, page 167:

(US, simile, dated) Perfectly good, sound, or reliable.


jimbang

(informal, US) Synonym of shebang (“thing, or current business”); usually "the whole jimbang"


jimpsecute

(US, slang, archaic) A young man's sweetheart; a girlfriend.


roasting pan

(cooking, US) A kitchen utensil used for roasting in an oven.


EXCOMM

(US, historical) The Executive Committee of the National Security Council: a body of United States government officials that convened to advise President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.


Freshman 15

freshman fifteen
freshman fifteen#English

(US, Canada, colloquial) Alternative form of freshman fifteen


make a dollar out of fifteen cents

en-verb

make<,,made> a dollar out of fifteen cents

make a dollar out of fifteen cents (third-person singular simple present makes a dollar out of fifteen cents, present participle making a dollar out of fifteen cents, simple past and past participle made a dollar out of fifteen cents)

makes a dollar out of fifteen cents (present singular third-person)
making a dollar out of fifteen cents (participle present)
made a dollar out of fifteen cents (participle past)
made a dollar out of fifteen cents (past)

(Canada, US) To spend one's money carefully and sparingly, so that it lasts; to be thrifty.


va fangool

Adapted from Sicilian vâ fa 'n culu. Akin to Italian vaffanculo.

(vulgar, US, Italian American) Fuck you!


doughnut dolly

en-noun

doughnut dolly (plural doughnut dollies)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-doughnut dolly.wav

So called because they served doughnuts at mobile canteens.

Carter said they flew some doughnut dollies out to Colt the other day, but they live way up at the headquarters compound, and you said you've only been between here and the hospital.

1984, William E. Holland, Let a Soldier Die, page 151:

Rankin said she recommended the producers drop the character of K.C., a "doughnut dolly” who became a prostitute

1988, Media Report to Women - Volumes 16-17:

(US, military, slang, historical) A female volunteer for the American Red Cross providing support to servicemen.


winterim

(US) A period in a winter term in which students work on projects away from their normal school


workaway

(US, dated) a person who works his passage


teeth-to-tail ratio

teeth-to-tail ratio (plural teeth-to-tail ratios)

(US, military) The ratio of combat troops to support forces.


soft ordnance

Some of the planes were loaded with "soft" ordnance—cluster bombs or napalm—others with "hard" ordnance such as high explosives. The planes were scrambled according to what the troops on the ground called for. If enemy soldiers were in the open, soft ordnance was on the menu; […]

2000 December 31, Dale Andradé, America's Last Vietnam Battle: Halting Hanoi's 1972 Easter Offensive, University Press of Kansas, →ISBN, page 364:

(US, military, euphemistic) Napalm or cluster bombs (for use against soft targets), as opposed to high explosives (for hardened targets).


sawdust joint

(Canada, US, slang) A plain casino without ostentatious decoration.


782 gear

So called for the form for issue of individual equipment, NAVMC Form 782.

(US, military) Military gear for use in the field, including a rifle, bedding, first aid kit, etc.


earbanger

He also knows that he has a tendency towards being overweight and watches his diet carefully, and he can tell you everything there is to know about every man in his platoon. Yet, more than once, I've read him off for being partial to a couple of obvious earbangers, and the simplest problem can make him indecisive.

In fact, the platoon sergeant was very smart, but he was loath to show it off, especially in front of superiors, who were prone to label even junior staff noncoms who talked to them too much as “earbangers,” a blunt, unflattering nautical term for ass kisser.

2020, Eric Hammel, Til The Last Bugle Call, page 28:

(US, military, slang, derogatory) An obsequious member of the military who attempts to curry favor with superiors.


take under advisement

en-verb

take under advisement (third-person singular simple present takes under advisement, present participle taking under advisement, simple past took under advisement, past participle taken under advisement)

takes under advisement (present singular third-person)
taking under advisement (participle present)
took under advisement (past)
taken under advisement (participle past)


above one's huckleberry

above one's bend
above one's bend#English

(idiomatic, US, dated) Synonym of above one's bend (“beyond one's power or ability”)


huckleberry above one's persimmon

a huckleberry above one's persimmon (canonical)

[…] still it is a huckleberry above my persimmon to cipher out how it is with six months' schooling only […]

1837, Davy Crockett, Col. Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in Texas, page 1:

(US, idiomatic) Something beyond one's power or ability.


cullud pusson

en-noun

cullud pusson (plural cullud pussons or cullud people)

cullud pussons (plural)
cullud people (plural)

Most likely an intentional mispronunciation of "colored person", perhaps to mock how African American people pronounced the term.

[…] not a long time before, had charmed the last dollar from my waistcoat pocket by exhibiting, à la Barnum, a remarkably ugly "cullud pusson" on his pulpit stairs, and by picturing the awful doom which awaited her […]

1862, James Roberts Gilmore, Among the Pines: Or, South in Secession-time, page 57:

De niggers prayed, but it didn't do no good, as de Yankees only frowed de more shells, and de Lord seemed deaf to de petitions of the cullud pussons.

1885, W. W. Breese, The Cornucopia: Or, Horn of Plenty, page 407:

Well, the cullud pusson I knew was swallowed by an alligator, because he told a lie.

1888, Frederick Albion Ober, A Boy's Adventures in the West Indies, page 49:

"Meg," said Elsie, as Margaret came wearily into the house at the noon hour, "what have you been trying to do with those good-for-nothing 'cullud pussons' out there?"
"Teach them a little responsibility, that is all."

1891, Alice Elinor Bartlett, A New Aristocracy, page 78:

(US, obsolete, ethnic slur) A colored person (one with black skin).


empty the clip

en-verb

empty the clip (third-person singular simple present empties the clip, present participle emptying the clip, simple past and past participle emptied the clip)

empties the clip (present singular third-person)
emptying the clip (participle present)
emptied the clip (participle past)
emptied the clip (past)

Prosecutors say Medina fired eight shots, emptying the clip on his weapon.

2015 November 10, Zachary Fagenson, “Florida 'Facebook Killer' goes on trial for wife's murder”, in Reuters, retrieved 2021-04-20:

(chiefly US, literal) To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.

DeRozan emptied the clip. The fans at the ACC emptied theirs, too. Every person in that arena […] was ready to leave it all on the floor.

2016 May 2, Blake Murphy, “They did it”, in Raptors Republic, retrieved 2021-04-20:

That completed an unraveling of an early Blue Jays lead that stood at five runs after the second inning as Toronto emptied the clip on Tampa Bay starter Austin Pruitt.

2017 August 23, Arden Zwelling, “Stroman battles feel for pitches in Blue Jays-Rays slugfest”, in Sportsnet, retrieved 2021-04-20:

The Stars emptied the clip and were the better team in last two periods.

2021 March 29, Ben Davila, “Dallas Stars: Are we kidding ourselves about their chances?”, in Fansided, retrieved 2021-04-20:

(chiefly US, idiomatic, sports, by extension) To compete with great vigor, especially by making numerous scoring attempts.

When prodded about his team's struggles […] Boudreau completely emptied the clip before storming out of his postgame press conference.

2017 April 17, Dane Mizutani, “Bruce Boudreau explodes, proves goalie Jake Allen has gotten to Wild”, in Twin Cities Pioneer Press, retrieved 2021-04-20:

(chiefly US, idiomatic, by extension) To speak vehemently, especially in an outraged, insulting, or threatening manner.


good trouble

(US) A punishment that follows from an act that furthers justice, especially in reference to civil rights work.


cookie exchange

en-noun

cookie exchange (plural cookie exchanges)

(Canada, US) A party where each attendee brings cookies of one type that they have baked, and attendees take home one of each kind of cookie.


pre-existing condition

pre-existing condition (plural pre-existing conditions)

pre-existing conditions (plural)
preexisting condition (alternative)

(US) A medical condition that started before a person's health insurance went into effect.


broken-down valise

broken-down valise (plural broken-down valises)

"In the football business there are so many sleazy bums — broken-down valises, I call them — who don't have two quarters to rub together," Bloom said.

1987 June 21, Bill Brubaker, “The Rise and Gall of Secret Agents Walters and Bloom”, in Washington Post, Washington, DC:

Adam Schiff: "Abe Mercer. Ten years ago, he was a broken-down valise. Bad divorce, partners suing him, ethics review. If Doc Gooden can rise from the dead, why not Abe Mercer?"

1996 September 18, René Balcer, “Causa Mortis”, in Law & Order, season 7, episode 1:

Sonny was just a dirty-looking old man, a broken-down old man. A broken-down valise. That's Charlie's words. That's what he'd call a washed-up wiseguy.

2003, Gary Weiss, Born to Steal: When the Mafia Hit Wall Street, New York: Warner Books, page 237:

The Mafia and the FBI both considered Greg a relic, a washed-up has-been or, in the colorful language of the Mafia, a brokester, a broken-down valise.

2008, Joaquin "Jack" Garcia, Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family, New York: Touchstone, page 4:

(US, Mafia, slang) A person who has fallen on hard times; a has-been


busted valise

The sources described the natty Pomeranz as a fast talker but "a phony" and "a real busted valise" whose checks had a strong elastic snap to them.

1962 July 26, Edward Kirkman, Henry Lee, “DA Fears Gang's X Will Mark The Spot For Mr. X's Rubout”, in Daily News, New York, page 4:

"Two bucks! He asks me for two bucks! Sonny, I'm a busted valise."

1964 October 24, Gilbert Rogin, “At the Sea-Vue Arms”, in New Yorker, New York, page 63:

(US, slang) A person who has run out of money

They appear to be a vast improvement over the busted valises who were hired for so many jobs by Abe Beame.

1978 January 4, Pete Hamill, “Dear Ed: Take the Bronx and Staten Island, Too”, in Daily News, New York, page 4:

(US, slang) A person who has lost power or abilities; a has-been


STAAR

(US, education) Acronym of State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.


TEKS

(US, education) Acronym of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.