horror movie

(chiefly Canada, US) A motion picture which entertains by horrifying or frightening the audience.

grilfliek

motion picture which horrifies or frightens


field mouse

field mice (plural)
fieldmouse (alternative)

(Canada, US) A small vole such as the meadow vole.


lineup

Before viewing the lineup, each witness should be required to give to the officer in charge of the lineup a written description of the perpetrator of the crime.

1999, John N. Ferdico, Criminal Procedure for the Criminal Justice Professional, page 498:

This innocent suspect is placed in a lineup with five fillers who look similar to that innocent suspect. Given this scenario, one may ask How many people are in the lineup because they fit the description of the perpetrator?

2007, Jack R. Greene, The Encyclopedia of Police Science, Taylor & Francis, →ISBN, page 493:

Foster was placed in a three-man lineup for viewing by the only witness (the manager of the office). Foster was about 6 feet tall, whereas the other two men in the lineup were about 5 feet 6 inches tall.

2007, Thomas J. Gardner, Terry M. Anderson, Criminal Evidence: Principles and Cases, page 264:

(US, law and law enforcement) a physical or photographic queue of people allegedly involved in a crime, allowing a witness to identify them


get with the program

en-verb

get with the program (third-person singular simple present gets with the program, present participle getting with the program, simple past got with the program, past participle gotten with the program)

gets with the program (present singular third-person)
getting with the program (participle present)
got with the program (past)
gotten with the program (participle past)
get with the programme (alternative)

When the student was behind on his vocabulary, the teacher said, "get with the program!"

(US, idiomatic, informal) To become organized, current, or aware; to adopt the prevailing viewpoint.

Though natural gas prices dropped, the folks doing solar didn't get with the program.

In the first season of Stranger Things, no character was more extra than Steve Harrington — Nancy Wheeler’s frequently possessive, largely confused, often douchey boyfriend. Though he eventually got with the program and helped fight some monsters, he wasn’t exactly what you’d call the pick of the litter.

2017 November 7, Aja Romano, “The unlikely breakout star of Stranger Things 2 is unlikelier babysitter Steve Harrington”, in Vox:

(US, idiomatic, informal) To work productively toward the objective of a shared enterprise, especially after the objective or the environment has changed.

Dude, get with the program! We don't do casual Fridays any more.

(US, idiomatic, informal) To comply with the norms of a social group, especially a shared enterprise; to comply with the accepted or prevailing way of doing things.


linnet

From Old French linette, from lin (“flax”), from the bird's fondness for the seeds of flax, the source of linen and Old English līnete, līnetwige (“linnet”) (> dialectal English lintwhite).

(US) A house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), of North America.


clinician

From French clinicien, equivalent to clinic + -ian.

physician

all physicians are professionals, and most are also clinicians

nurse

all nurses are professionals, and most are also clinicians

(chiefly US) Someone who conducts a clinic; an expert or skilled practitioner in a particular field, such as business or education. In this sense, a clinician is someone who provides practical advice or hands-on assistance to others in a specific area of expertise. For example, a business clinician might be an experienced consultant who helps companies improve their operations, while an education clinician might be a skilled teacher who provides professional development and support to other educators.


Lord willing and the creek don't rise

En-au-Lord willing and the creek don't rise.ogg

Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe.

Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest.

(idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances.


yard sale

yard sales (plural)
yardsale (alternative)

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

(US) A sale of used household goods held on the seller's own premises.


tag sale

All of a sudden, my legs went to work on their own, sweeping me into my living room and leaving me at the mahogany bookshelf Iʼd purchased from a tag sale shortly after moving to Catskill.

2021, Zakiya Dalila Harris, The Other Black Girl, Bloomsbury, page 191:

(US, chiefly New England) A domestic sale of second-hand items; a garage sale or yard sale.


docent

From Latin docēns, present participle of doceō (“to teach”). In the meaning of a university grade, as used in some Central European countries, it is clipped version of private docent, privat-docent, from German Privatdozent, from German Dozent.

The docent greeted the visitors and welcomed them to the Smithsonian.

She was listening distractedly as an elderly docent intoned to a circle of listless children.

2020, Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half, Dialogue Books, page 149:

(chiefly US) A tour guide at a museum, art gallery, historical site, etc.


class action

(law, chiefly US, Canada) A lawsuit brought by a single plaintiff or small group of plaintiffs as a representative of a large group of others having a common interest, with everyone in the large group eligible to receive damages if the plaintiff is successful.

複雑訴訟形態

ふくざつそしょうけいたい


redneck

Bahuvrīhi compound of red + neck. Compare rooinek. The term originally characterized farmers that had a red neck, caused by sunburn from long hours working in the fields.

(historical, slang, US) Any of the miners who wore red bandanas for identification during the West Virginia mine war of 1921.

(historical, slang, US) A member of a certain Baltimore street gang, active in 1859.


potlatch

en-noun

potlatch (usually uncountable, plural potlatches)

potlatches (plural)
potlach (alternative)
potlache (alternative)

/ˈpɑtˌlæt͡ʃ/

The noun is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (“to give; gift; gift-giving ceremony, potlatch”), from Nootka Jargon pa'chatle, pa'chēētle, pah-chilt (“to give, give me”), from Nootka p̕ačiƛ (“to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”).
Sense 1 of the verb (“to give; especially, to give a gift during a potlatch ceremony”) is borrowed from Chinook Jargon potlatch, pátlač (see above); sense 2 (“to carry out or take part in a potlatch ceremony”) is derived from the noun.

der

First, the Indian himself is to be sought out; then the horse is to be tried; next the price is to be discussed, then the mode of payment, and finally the potlatch: each and all are matters of grave consideration and delay, during which the Indians make a business of watching every circumstance of which they can take advantage. No one can be sure of closing his bargain, until the terms are duly arranged, the potlatch given, and the horse delivered.

1844, Charles Wilkes, “Puget Sound and Okonagan”, in Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. […], volume IV, Philadelphia, Pa.: […] C. Sherman, →OCLC, page 445:

The end of all this scraping and hoarding is to give away the property again at some potlatch, at which in a few hours the labour of years will be dissipated. The feasts are often given by the chief men of small tribes as a sort of peace-offering to more powerful ones; but most frequently they are looked upon in the light of gratifying the vanity of the giver and of adding to his personal consequence. [...] The chiefs are under the necessity of frequently giving these potlatches in order to preserve their popularity, just as the old knights used to scatter largess to their followers; [...]

1873, Robert Brown, “The North-western American Indians”, in The Races of Mankind: […], volume I, London, Paris: Cassell, Petter, & Galpin, →OCLC, pages 75–76:

I questioned the Chief respecting a "Potlache" which he had held at his place during the previous winter, and ascertained that himself and two of his Headmen had given away in presents to their friends 134 sacks of flour, 140 pairs of blankets, together with a quantity of apples and provisions, amounting in value to about $700, for all of which they had paid in cash out of their earnings as laborers, fishermen, and hunters.

1876 October 15, James Lenihan, “British Columbia Superintendencies. [No. 29. Report on Indian Affairs in Fraser Superintendency, British Columbia.]”, in Annual Report of the Department of the Interior for the Year Ended 30th June, 1876. […], Ottawa: […] Maclean, Roger & Co., […], published 1877, →OCLC, part I (Indian Branch), page 38:

Nusk’Elu′sta, the Indian, to whom I owe my information regarding the clans, and who is a member of the gens Ialô′stimōt of the Taliô′mx·, stated that he had received the raven [carving] when he gave his first potlatch. At his second potlatch he received the eagle. He hoped that his mother would give him the whale at his next potlatch, and would at the same time divulge to him the secrets connected with it. [...] Property is also destroyed at potlatches. This is not returned, and serves only to enhance the social position of the individual who performed this act.

1897, Franz Boas, “The Social Organization and the Secret Societies of the Kwakiutl Indians, […]”, in Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, […] Report of the U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, chapter XIII (The Religious Ceremonials of Other Tribes of the North Pacific Coast), pages 647–648:

That night there was a grand wedding and a potlach; so that for two days to follow there was no fishing done by the village.

1900 April 7, Jack London, “The Wife of a King”, in The Son of the Wolf: Tales of the Far North, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 162:

No potlatch or secret society initiation could be given by a tribal member until the chief had officially opened the winter ceremonial season. His affairs took priority over those sponsored by lineage heads, who must provide him with wealth befor they were able to accumulate for their own potlatches.

[1951], Viola E[dmundson] Garfield, “Part 1: The Tsimshian and Their Neighbors”, in Viola E. Garfield, Paul S. Wingert, Marius Barbeau, edited by Marian W. Smith, The Tsimshian: Their Arts and Music (Publications of the American Ethnological Society; XVIII), New York, N.Y.: J. J. Augustin, →OCLC, chapter III (Political Organization), page 37:

Anyway, I lie here and imagine grandfather celebrating a heavenly potlache – (heaven is the only place he'll ever celebrate it, for it's long since been forbidden by the government here on earth) – and the great Christian gates are opening for him now, and behind him the charred remains of his pipe and his blue denims bear witness to the last potlache of all.

1971, Gwendolyn MacEwen, “House of the Whale”, in David Helwig, Tom Marshall, editors, Fourteen Stories High, Ottawa, Ont.: Oberon Press, →ISBN, pages 26–27; republished in Meaghan Strimas, editor, The Selected Gwendolyn MacEwen (Exile Classics; no. 7), Holstein, Ont.: Exile Editions, 2007, →ISBN, page 142:

Corporations will now have to justify all their internal pricing decisions up front. This will be a potlatche^([sic]) for economic consultants. But it will be a huge burden for honest business taxpayers, and it won't bring us much closer to a solution.

1993 March 25, Byron L[eslie] Dorgan, “Opening Statement of Senator Dorgan”, in The Breakdown of IRS Tax Enforcement Regarding Multinational Corporations: Revenue Losses, Excessive Litigation, and Unfair Burdens for U.S. Producers: Hearing before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session […] (S. Hrg. 103-102), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 2:

One part bacchanal, one part tribal potlatch, one part vestigial New England supper, the entire affair hinged on the coronation of the Strawberry Princess—always a virginal Japanese maiden dressed in satin and dusted carefully across the face with rice powder—in an oddly solemn ceremony before the Island County Courthouse at sundown of the inaugural evening.

1994 September 12, David Guterson, chapter 7, in Snow Falling on Cedars, [Boston, Mass.]: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, published 2012, →ISBN:

This was the delusion of Reaganomics, the supply-siders' inability to distinguish between spending and prosperity with the result that we simply waged economic warfare on ourselves in a potlatch of mutually assured bankruptcy.

1995, Michael Sorkin, “War is Swell”, in Donald Albrecht, editor, World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation, Washington, D.C.: National Building Museum, →ISBN, page 251:

Traditionally, potlatches were given in honor of marriages, births, and deaths. [...] People who had been shamed in public could throw a potlatch to regain good standing in the community.

2014, Kate Mikoley, “The Potlatch”, in Therese Shea, editor, Native American Ceremonies and Celebrations: From Potlatches to Powwows (Native American Cultures), New York, N.Y.: Gareth Stevens Publishing, →ISBN, page 14:

(Canada, US, also figuratively) A ceremony amongst certain indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in which gifts are bestowed upon guests and personal property is destroyed in a show of generosity and wealth.

樂公 /乐公

communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share — see also potluck

If all went according to plan, the bands could harvest tons of meat, fat and animal skins in a single afternoon of collective effort, and either consume these riches in a giant potlatch, or dry, smoke or (in Arctic areas) freeze them for later usage.

2014, Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, London: Vintage Books, →ISBN:

(US, chiefly Alaska) A communal meal to which guests bring dishes to share; a potluck.


Clyde

The name of a river in Scotland, from the Gaelic name Cluaidh, of uncertain origin. Possibly influenced by clut (“the cleansing one”).

(chiefly US) A male given name transferred from the place name (the River Clyde in Scotland).


culminate

en-verb

culminate (third-person singular simple present culminates, present participle culminating, simple past and past participle culminated)

culminates (present singular third-person)
culminating (participle present)
culminated (participle past)
culminated (past)

Recorded since 1647, from Medieval Latin culminatus, the past participle of culminare (“to crown”), from Latin culmen (“peak, the highest point”), older form columen (“top, summit”), from Proto-Italic *kolamen, from a Proto-Indo-European base *kol-, *kelH- (“to project, rise; peak, summit, top”), whence also English hill and holm.

der

Approaching from the south on foot, elements of the CG battalion were first to come into contact and their attack culminated because the rate and accuracy of the VC small arms fire. The CG battalions attempted two assaults to penetrate[…]

2014 August 15, Major Kevin R. Kilbride, Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam (1954-1963): The Battle Of Ap Bac, Pickle Partners Publishing, →ISBN:

As a result, the attack culminated the first day without additional artillery support. The towns of Eclisfontaine and Epinonville were not held on the first day as originally directed in the Corps plan.

2014 August 15, Major Bryan L. Woodcock, 91st Infantry In World War I--Analysis Of An AEF Division's Efforts To Achieve Battlefield Success [Illustrated Edition], Pickle Partners Publishing, →ISBN, page 33:

(US, military, of an offensive, etc) To reach a point at which continued progress is not possible.


Hudson

The water-level route, the whistle and the loud staccato exhaust of this great engine recalled most vividly memories of the New York Central Hudsons highballing along the Hudson River between Harmon and Albany!

1960 October, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railway: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 613:

(rail transport, US, Canada) A steam locomotive of the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement.


action group

(US military) A component of a naval task force.


phagocytize

en-verb

phagocytize (third-person singular simple present phagocytizes, present participle phagocytizing, simple past and past participle phagocytized)

phagocytizes (present singular third-person)
phagocytizing (participle present)
phagocytized (participle past)
phagocytized (past)
phagocytise (alternative)

(immunology, cytology, US) To ingest (something) by phagocytosis.


one-horse town

The term “one-horse” originated as an agricultural phrase, meaning ‘to be drawn/worked by a single horse.’ This led to the use of this phrase in a metaphorical sense as something that is small or insignificant.
Charles Dickens explained in his publication All the Year Round (1871):
‘One horse’ is an agricultural phrase, applied to anything small or insignificant, or to any inconsiderable or contemptible person: as a ‘one-horse town,’ a ‘one-horse bank,’ a ‘one-horse hotel,’ a ‘one-horse lawyer’, [etc.]

It's surrounded by beautiful wilderness, but otherwise it's just a one-horse town.

The journey took 48 hours with a stopover in a Bates-style motel in the one-horse town of Marblemount – the last services for 70 wild miles of boscage and bears.

2021 February 16, Dan Richards, “Peak cabin: a fire-spotter's lonely vantage point in Washington state”, in The Guardian:

(US, idiomatic) A very small town, especially one of a rural nature and/or offering very few or no attractions.


NIMS

National Incident Management System
w:National Incident Management System

(US) Acronym of National Incident Management System.


derby

desc

→ Arabic: دَرْبِي (darbī), الدَّرْبِي (ad-darbī)

→ Catalan: derbi

→ Cebuano: derbi

→ Chinese:

Cantonese: 打吡 (daa2 bei2), 打比 (daa2 bei2)

Mandarin: 德比 (débǐ)

→ Czech: derby

→ Dutch: derby

→ French: derby

→ German: Derby

→ Hebrew: דֶּרְבִּי (dérbi)

→ Hungarian: derbi

→ Indonesian: derbi

→ Italian: derby

→ Japanese: ダービー (dābī)

→ Lao: ເດີຣບີ (dœ̄n bī)

→ Lao: ເດີຣບີ (dœ̄n bī)

→ Macedonian: де́рби (dérbi)

→ Persian: دربی (derbi)

→ Polish: derby

→ Portuguese: dérbi

→ Romanian: derby

→ Russian: де́рби (dérbi)

→ Serbo-Croatian:

Cyrillic script: де̏рби

Latin script: dȅrbi

→ Spanish: derbi

→ Swedish: derby

→ Thai: ดาร์บี้ (daa-bîi)

→ Turkish: derbi

→ Ukrainian: де́рбі (dérbi)

From Epsom Derby horse race, named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby. Ultimately from Derby.

named-after

He began to fan her with his hat. That was successful, for he struck her nose with the brim of his derby and she opened her eyes.


demolition derby

en-noun

demolition derby (plural demolition derbies)

(chiefly US) a competition in which contestants crash old cars into each other, the last vehicle surviving being the winner.

撞車比賽 /撞车比赛

competition in which contestants crash cars


wickedly

en-adv

wickedly (comparative more wickedly, superlative most wickedly)

more wickedly (comparative)
most wickedly (superlative)

From Middle English wyckedly, wykkedlyche, equivalent to wicked + -ly.


grounded

en-adj

grounded (comparative more grounded, superlative most grounded)

more grounded (comparative)
most grounded (superlative)

From Middle English grounded, i-grounded, equivalent to ground + -ed.

(electricity, Canada, US) Of or pertaining to an electrical conductor which is connected to earth; earthed.


scholarly

en-adv

scholarly (comparative more scholarly, superlative most scholarly)

more scholarly (comparative)
most scholarly (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-scholarly.wav


gunship

Roger that, Hocus. Friendly gunship, coming in hot!

2007 September 25, Bungie, Halo 3, spoken by Avery Johnson (David Scully), Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360, level/area: Sierra 117:

armoured fighting vehicle
armoured fighting vehicle

(US, air force, military) A transport airplane equipped with large calibre guns typical of armoured fighting vehicles


pro tem

Clipping of pro tempore, from Latin prō tempore (literally “for a time”)

uder

pro tem. (alternative)
p.t. (alternative)

(chiefly US) temporarily; for the time being


pro tem

(chiefly US) acting (of a job or role), serving temporarily


elevated

the Washington Street Elevated

Mr. Nunheim's home was on the fourth floor of a dark, damp, and smelly building made noisy by the Sixth Avenue elevated.

1934, Dashiell Hammett, chapter 16, in The Thin Man, New York: Knopf:

While the New York, Fordham, and Bronx Railway never built any elevateds, its franchise rights were valuable.

2012, Roger P. Roess, Gene Sansone, The Wheels That Drove New York:


battalion

From Middle French battaillon (modern French bataillon).

(US, military) an army unit having two or more companies, etc. and a headquarters; forming part of a brigade.


checkbook journalism

(US) The practice of journalists of paying a person or organization for the receipt of a news story.

breabiriseoireacht

the practice of journalists of paying a person or organization for the receipt of a news story


SSI

en-noun

SSI (countable and uncountable, plural SSIs)

Supplemental Security Income
w:Supplemental Security Income

(US) Initialism of Supplemental Security Income.

shoulder sleeve insignia
w:shoulder sleeve insignia

(military, US) Initialism of shoulder sleeve insignia.


brainstorm

brainstorms (plural)
brain-storm (alternative)
brain storm (alternative)

From brain + storm. In the sense of "problem-solve", devised as a method of group creative problem-solving by advertising executive Alex F. Osborn and his employees, who coined the term based on the image of using "the brain to storm a problem". First use appears c. 1945. In the sense of "seizure, convulsion, brain activity", from the unrelated idea that it resembles a storm in the brain. First use appears c. 1861.

I had been working on the problem for weeks, and then I had a brainstorm and saw that the solution was easy.

(US) A sudden thought, particularly one that solves a long-standing problem.


condo

(US, Canada, Philippines) Clipping of condominium.


circuit rider

circuit riders (plural)
circuit-rider (alternative)

circuit rider (Religious)
circuit rider (Technology)

(US) A judge who holds court in a series of towns.


how do you like them apples

"I can't give you a raise now; if I did, this whole company would go bankrupt, and you wouldn't have a job at all. Now how do you like them apples?"

(colloquial, rhetorical question, Ireland, US) Used after an actual or proposed action with which the listener might be displeased, and also used after refuting an argument.


burg

The historical sense is from Late Latin burgus, from Frankish *burg, from Proto-Germanic *burgz (“borough, fortification”). Doublet of borough, Brough, burgh, burh, and bury. Also compare burgess.
The modern sense may have been formed in part by analogy with the many North American city names that are suffixed with -burg (a number of which in the Eastern United States once used -burgh instead. See burgh), as well as being formed in part due to German Burg.

doublet

Tell mother that I will write her in a day or two, probably from Chicago, as I have always had an idea that that was one burg where I could make good.

1921, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Efficiency Expert, HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2012:

Imagine my surprise when I learned that he was not only a Canadian but lived in Ottawa, that icy burg I had left so many kilometers -- sorry, miles -- behind me.

2009 June, David Thriault, “This Way In: The Sound and the Fury”, in Esquire, volume 151, number 6, page 6:

It's been said that Wilder modeled that fictional setting on Peterborough, a quaint burg tucked away in New Hampshire's verdant southwestern hills.

2010 Feb, Paige Orloff, “Big Style on a (Little) Budget”, in Country Living, volume 33, number 2, page 84:


stipulate

en-verb

stipulate (third-person singular simple present stipulates, present participle stipulating, simple past and past participle stipulated)

stipulates (present singular third-person)
stipulating (participle present)
stipulated (participle past)
stipulated (past)

From Latin stipulātus, perfect active participle of stipulor (“to demand a formal promise, stipulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

The defense stipulates that the witness has identified my client.

The parties stipulate that Exhibits 1 through 3 accompanied the initial Verified Complaint and Jury Demand, and that they are displayed in this text in the Exhibits section solely for clarity of the layout.

2016 January 1, Elizabeth I. Boals, Shailee D. Sharma, Stanton v. Armstrong: Case File, Aspen Publishers, →ISBN, page 4:

(US, transitive, formal, law) To acknowledge the truth of; not to challenge.


fatigues

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

He looked up, met gray eyes ringed with paintstick. She was wearing faded French orbital fatigues and new white sneakers.

1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 9:

Ross: … why do you have to wear underwear tonight?
Joey: It's a rented tux, 'kay? I'm not gonna go commando in another man's fatigues.

1996, Friends (TV series), "The One Where No One's Ready" [3.02], Act 2, approx. 12 minutes (of 23)

The little green men were clearly professional soldiers by their bearing, carried Russian weapons, and wore Russian combat fatigues, but they had no identifying insignia. Vladimir Putin originally denied they were Russian soldiers; that April, he confirmed they were.

2019 March 18, Steven Pifer, Five years after Crimea’s illegal annexation, the issue is no closer to resolution, The Center for International Security and Cooperation:

(US) Military clothing worn when doing menial tasks.


mooch

If we take Scaramucci’s 10-day figure to be the standard of measurement — one “mooch” — then Pruitt survived an amazing 50.3 mooches, even while enduring more than a dozen scandals, any one of which would have doomed a lesser man.

2018 July 6, Dana Milbank, The Washington Post:

Scaramucci, who jokingly measures time in mooches, a unit equal to approximately 11 days, said he doesn’t necessarily like the version of himself he often sees on screen, but feels director Andrew J. Moscato was accurate.

2018 October 27, John Carucci, “Anthony Scaramucci defends Trump, but doesn't always agree”, in Associated Press (press release)-:

I understand it's her job. But I would point out to people that Stephanie has lasted way more “Mooches” than me.

2019 August 29, Peter Nicholas, “Anthony Scaramucci Wants You to Believe Him This Time”, in The Atlantic:


paperwork

to have bad paperwork ― to be charged with sex-related offenses or to likely be an informant

(US, prison slang) Court documents or pre-sentencing investigation reports detailing the prisoner's criminal history (usually in the context of discerning whether an inmate has been charged for sex-related offenses or is likely to be an informant).


temblor

Ever since the San Francisco earthquake of April 18, 1906, scientists have been warning that it is just a matter of time before another major temblor strikes the Bay Area.

2006, Louise Chipley Slavicek, The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Of 1906, page 107:

The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was measured 4 on Taiwan's 7-tiered intensity scale in Yichu, 3 in Chiayi City and Tainan City's Chiali, as well as 2 in Yunlin County's Touliu City and Shuilin.

2018 November 10, “4.3-magnitude earthquake rocks Taiwan's Chiayi”, in Taiwan News, archived from the original on 2018-11-10, Environment:

PNR trips were suspended at past 1 p.m. after the temblor struck Camarines Norte, but was felt in the city of Manila at Intensity 3.

2022 December 8, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, “PNR suspends trips due to earthquake”, in The Philippine Star:

Ukraine was already dealing with the temblors in the U.S. government.

2023 October 8, Thomas L. Friedman, “Israel’s Worst Day at War”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:


left and right

right and left (alternative)
left, right and center (alternative)
left, right and centre (alternative)
right, left and center (alternative)
right, left and centre (alternative)

You can't expect to eat desserts left and right and not gain weight.

And then all the distributions come in and they screw it all up. Because they break binary compatibility left and right

2014, Linus Torvalds, DebConf: Q&A with Linus Torvalds:

(Canada, US) All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.


boggle

boggle (third-person singular simple present boggles, present participle boggling, simple past and past participle boggled)

boggles (present singular third-person)
boggling (participle present)
boggled (participle past)
boggled (past)

Variation or derivation of bogle, possibly cognate with bug.

w:Webster's Dictionary#Webster's New International Dictionary 1909

(US, dialect) To embarrass with difficulties; to palter or equivocate; to bungle or botch


powdered sugar

en-noun

powdered sugar (usually uncountable, plural powdered sugars)

/ˈpaʊ.dəd ˈʃʊɡ.ə/

/ˈpaʊ.dɚd ˈʃʊɡ.ɚ/

(US) Very finely ground sugar to which cornstarch is added to prevent lumping, mostly used in icings and confections to produce a smooth texture.

пудра захар

very finely ground sugar used in icings, etc


scrumptious

en-adj

scrumptious (comparative more scrumptious, superlative most scrumptious)

more scrumptious (comparative)
most scrumptious (superlative)

Probably from scrimp (“to put on short allowance, limit, straiten; to be frugal”) + -ious (suffix forming adjectives denoting the presence of a quality in any degree (usually an abundance)), possibly modelled after scrimption (“small portion, little bit, scrap”).


hard cider

en-noun

hard cider (countable and uncountable, plural hard ciders)

(US) An alcoholic beverage formed by fermenting cider (apple juice).


baguette

Borrowed from French baguette (“stick”), from Italian bacchetta.

I ain't pray for these baguettes, I prayed for better days (Better days)

2021, “Outside (Better Days)”, in Holy Goat 2, performed by Blueface and OG Bobby Billions:


Happy Thanksgiving

(US, Canada) The greeting said near the holiday Thanksgiving.


Poindexter

Poindexters (plural)
poindexter (alternative)

From Jersey Norman Poingdestre (literally “right fist”). The sense “bookish or socially unskilled person” is from the character of the same name in the cartoon Felix the Cat. Its first use appears c. 1981 in the publication University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Slang.

bor

Brain: A quantum-interface bomb? Are you insane in the membrane? / Philip Fry: You got it, Poindexter!

2003 April 6, David X. Cohen, “The Why of Fry”, in Futurama, season 5, episode 8, Fox Broadcasting Company:

On first listen, Americans of a certain vintage would call one a Poindexter, while older Brits would regard the other as a swot.

2023 August 8, Janan Ganesh, “The oneness of Ron DeSantis and Rishi Sunak”, in Financial Times:

(US, informal) A bookish or socially unskilled person.


sweeps

(US, television) The Nielsen ratings used to measure television show viewership several times a year.


ERISA

w:Employee Retirement Income Security Act

(US, law) Acronym of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (of 1974)


trifecta

In fact, there are about a dozen states, including California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Illinois, where Democrats have won the trifecta—they control the governor's seat as well as both houses of the state legislature.

2013 June 26, Steven Hill, “So the Voting Rights Act Is Gutted—What Can Protect Minority Voters Now?”, in The Atlantic:

It’s not just Florida, of course. Republican trifectas in states across the country have introduced and passed dozens of bills aimed at the public existence of trans and other gender-nonconforming people.

2023 December 12, Jamelle Bouie, “Red States and Blue States Are Becoming Different Countries”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US politics) The complete legislative and executive control of state or federal government by one party: governorship, the upper house, and the lower house of state or federal legislatures.

trifekta

control by one party of the federal or state government


accountable mail

en-noun

accountable mail (usually uncountable, plural accountable mails)

(US) A category of mail in the US Postal Service including registered, numbered, insured, and certified mail.


buzzcut

buzzcuts (plural)
buzz cut (alternative)

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

(US, Canada) A closely-cropped military-style haircut.


entrée

Borrowed from French entrée. Doublet of entrada and entry.

ENTREES AND ENTREMETS. Usually, outside of France, entrees are side or corner dishes. ... In conclusion I again remark, entrees can be made from almost anything, the difference being, they are highly cooked and seasoned. Remember nothing large is served as an entree. There are game entrees, meat entrees, fish entrees, fowl entrees, etc.

1887, Estelle Woods Wilcox, Practical housekeeping: A careful compilation of tried and approved recipes (published in Dayton, Ohio, United States), page 457:

(historical in the US and Canada) A smaller dish served before the main course of a meal.

предястие

dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer

Entree: The main course is normally beef, chicken, duck, or lamb, and you eat these foods with a dinner knife and dinner fork.

2007, Sue Fox, Etiquette for Dummies (published in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States), page 180:

(chiefly US, Canada) The main course or main dish of a meal.


scofflaw

From scoff + law. Coined simultaneously by Mr Henry Irving Dale and Miss Kate L. Butler for a contest held in Boston in 1923 in which a word for "a lawless drinker of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor" was sought during the Prohibition era.

The scofflaw entered the scoflsloon. He leaned an elbow on the scoffbar and rested a foot on the scoffrail.
 'Waddle'y' have?" said the scoffbartender.
 "A little tea," said the scofflaw.

If we are to scour out the scofflaws, we must first remove those particular laws at which nearly everybody scoffs.

Within six months, with the full cooperation of police throughout the state, the scofflaw rate was down to 22 per cent.

1967, Police: The Journal Covering the Professional Interests of All Law Enforcement Personnel, volumes 12-13:

At that time, appellant was informed that because there were unpaid tickets in the amount of $2,725.00, his Datsun had been declared a "scofflaw" car.

2001: 10th International Conference on High-Occupancy Vehicle Systems: Compendium of Technical Papers
The signage will make it clear that if a motorist is an HOV scofflaw (i.e., violator of the vehicle code driving in the HOV-Only zone) that they will be subject to HOV violation fine of at least $271.

Unrepentant scofflaw on the lam
Layin' waste to all the best-laid plans

2001, J. G. Thirlwell (lyrics and music), “Heuldoch 7B”, in Flow, performed by Foetus:

Given Montana's continued, fretful association with various scofflaw organizations and its unwanted reputation as a place without speed limits or other boundaries on personal behavior, we might do well to acknowledge the excesses and inherent abuse of power carried out by men who for too many years refused to bow to the police and courts and rule of law.

2013: A Decent, Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes by Frederick Allen (University of Oklahoma Press)

(US) One who habitually violates minor laws or fails to answer trivial court summonses (such as parking tickets).


pro-life

en-adj

pro-life (comparative more pro-life, superlative most pro-life)

more pro-life (comparative)
most pro-life (superlative)

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

Anti-abortion movements
Pro-life (disambiguation)

They were pro-life except in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the life or health of the mother.

Of, pertaining to, or supportive of the right to life; believing that life should be protected from its beginning to natural death in all or most circumstances.

(chiefly US) Opposed to the practice or legalization of abortion.


soccer mom

soccer moms (plural)
soccer mum (alternative)

(US, sometimes derogatory) A stereotypical woman, typically middle-class, who is overprotective of her children and often overambitious and bragging about their success.


gabber

(US, dated) A radio commentator or disc jockey.


continuance

en-noun

continuance (countable and uncountable, plural continuances)

continuances (plural)
continuaunce (alternative)

From Middle English continuance, contynuaunce, from Old French continuance, from continuer.

At the submission to sufficient facts in Lowell District Court, an agreement was reached between the prosecution and the defense. Despite the continuance without a finding, the defendant was required to pay court costs of $150. The continuance means that if the defendant is not arrested on the same charge within the next six months, the charge against him will be dropped.

1976 August 14, “Chelmsford Police Net Another”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 7, page 1:

Where the Department of Homeland Security seeks to re-serve a respondent to effect proper service of a notice to appear that was defective under the regulatory requirements for serving minors under the age of 14, a continuance should be granted for that purpose.

2016 December 16, Anne J. Greer, Matter of W-A-F-C-, Respondent, Board of Immigration Appeals, 26 I&N Dec. 880 (BIA 2016), archived from the original on 2021-06-24, page 880:

(countable, law, chiefly US) An order issued by a court granting a postponement of a legal proceeding for a set period.


schlub

schlubs (plural)
schlob (alternative)
shlub (alternative)
shlubb (alternative)

From Yiddish זשלאָב (zhlob), perhaps from Polish żłób (“manger, trough; furrow, large groove in the soil”). Compare Russian жлоб (žlob). While the word is superficially similar in both meaning and sound to the common English term slob, the two words are not believed to be etymologically related.

der

“Do you want me to go in for a quick snoop and poop?” “No. You cannot go. They will sense you. No, we need a mortal. A human. A common schlub. A nobody. Someone whose personality is like a eunuch. Do you know?” “Okay, I'm gonna go. I'll go. All right? I'll go.”

2020 June 3, William Meny, “Witches” (5:14 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 2, episode 9, spoken by Nadja (Natasia Demetriou):

After the success of the film Jaws in 1975, two schlubs went around the United States pretending to be director Steven Spielberg and lead actor Richard Dreyfuss.

2022, W. David Marx, chapter 4, in Status and Culture, Viking, →ISBN:

(chiefly US, informal) A person who is clumsy, oafish, or socially awkward, or unattractive or unkempt.

krudulo

person who is clumsy, oafish, socially awkward, or unattractive or unkempt


finesse

en-verb

finesse (third-person singular simple present finesses, present participle finessing, simple past and past participle finessed)

finesses (present singular third-person)
finessing (participle present)
finessed (participle past)
finessed (past)

From Middle English finesse (“degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from Middle French finesse, Old French finesse (“fineness; delicacy; slenderness”), from fine, fin (“fine, thin”) (from Latin fīnis (“end”); compare Middle English fīn (“of superior quality; precious, valuable; admirable, pleasing; pure, refined; fineness, purity; delicate, exquisite, fine; sharp, thin”)) + -esse (suffix forming nouns describing the condition of being something).
The verb is derived from the noun.

esquivar

to evade using some clever argument or stratagem

Distressed as she was, she rose the next morning determined to contend with her feelings,—to think no more of Trevor,—and to finesse no more for a husband—she had had enough of it.

1835, chapter XIV, in Finesse. … In Two Volumes, volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 240:

As the children continue to shoot one another, I ask them some questions about guns. […] [M]ost revealing to me is that the children fully agree that they are playing a pretend game. The bad guys "really hurt people" and Freddie knows it because he "plays" it. Really hurting in pretend play … the children are not confused by this finessing of real and pretend. I think it is we adults who are confused by it.

2010 May, Kim Atkinson, “Working among the Good & Bad”, in Island Parent Magazine, Victoria, B.C.: Krayenhoff-Holland Enterprises, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2019-02-05; quoted in Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, Fikile Nxumalo, Laurie Kocher, Enid Elliot, Alejandra Sanchez, “Thinking Together”, in Journeys: Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Practices through Pedagogical Narration, Toronto, Ont.: University of Toronto Press, 2015, →ISBN, page 128:

When we get the script and we have a piece that's being written to or being created around a voiceover, we'll generally do a scratch voiceover track here and time it out to that, then get the real voiceover and do some finessing there.

2011, Yael Braha, Bill Byrne, quoting Stacy Nimmo, “The Essentials of Typography and Time [Interview: Stacy Nimmo on Title Design]”, in Creative Motion Graphic Titling for Film, Video, and the Web, Burlington, Mass., Kidlington, Oxfordshire: Focal Press, →ISBN, page 108:

After making the original capture[…], I sat down to finesse it in Photoshop.

2015, Nylora[-Joy] Bruleigh, “Just beyond Reach: Lighting, Posing, and Styling; Postproduction”, in Fine Art Portrait Photography: Lighting, Posing & Postproduction from Concept to Completion, Buffalo, N.Y.: Amherst Media, →ISBN, page 62:

Finesse a nigga with some counterfeits, but now I'm countin' this / Parmesan where my accountant lives, in fact I'm downin' this

2017 March 30, Kendrick Duckworth, Michael Williams II, Asheton Hoga (lyrics and music), “Humble”, in Damn, performed by Kendrick Lamar:

So with valuable extra time to finesse its passenger handling and communications strategies, NR set its sights on rescheduling the work to begin this December instead.

2020 September 23, Paul Stephen, “East Coast upgrade: changes to schedule... but on schedule”, in Rail, page 30:

(transitive, chiefly Canada, US, politics) To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.

(ambitransitive) To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.

finasser

to handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way

I was tryin'a finesse you outta them drawers, and you finessed a nigga out his heart," he said with a chuckle, "But that's cool. 'Cause I know it's in good hands."

2020, Racquel Williams, Finessed a Dope Boy's Heart:

(transitive, slang) To obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.

It is said that democratic institutions necessarily lead to political corruption. I can only say that it has not been so in this Colony. Members have schemed, finessed, log-rolled, to serve their districts, but never to put money in their own pockets.

1876, “Government and Laws”, in William Harcus, editor, South Australia: Its History, Resources, and Productions, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 38:

The founders deliberately finessed other issues concerning religion and the relationship between church and state to ensure the ratification of the Constitution.

2013, James F[ranklin] Harris, “The Supreme Court”, in The Serpentine Wall: The Winding Boundary between Church and State in the United States, New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, →ISBN, part III (Church and State in the Modern United States), page 185:

[…] Britain's Prime Minister David Lloyd George finessed the distinction between "indemnification" and "reparations" by insisting that his government's pension payments to the families of fallen soldiers should also be categorized as 'civilian" damages, thus making the recipients eligible for "reparations" to the tune of at least $110 billion[…].

2015, Howard M[orley] Sachar, “The Death of Giacomo Matteotti”, in The Assassination of Europe, 1918–1942: A Political History, Toronto, Ont.: University of Toronto Press, →ISBN, page 82:

Almost miraculously, [risk-neutral valuation] finesses the problem that we know hardly anything about the risk aversion of the buyers and sellers of options.

2018, John C. Hull, Options, Futures and Other Derivatives, 10th edition, Pearson, page 276:


hopping

en-adj

hopping (comparative more hopping, superlative most hopping)

more hopping (comparative)
most hopping (superlative)

(US, slang) Of a location, crowded with people.


sophomore

From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient Greek σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.

Coordinate term: debut

The band’s sophomore album built upon the success of their debut release, catapulting them to megastardom.

“Blonde,” which is spelled “Blond” on the album cover and “Blonde” on Apple and elsewhere, hews more closely to what was expected from a sophomore release by one of the most lauded and enigmatic young singers in pop music.

2016 August 21, Joe Coscarelli, “Frank Ocean Finally Delivers His Album, and a Pop-Up Surprise”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Spike Lee’s sophomore film, after his micro-budgeted and critically acclaimed debut, “She’s Gotta Have It,” was this big, bold ensemble musical set on the campus of a Historically Black College over a busy homecoming weekend.

2021 March 5, Jason Bailey, “Watch These 13 Titles on Netflix Before They Leave This Month”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US) The second in a series, especially, the second of an artist’s albums or the second of four years in a high school (tenth grade) or university.


sophomore

She was very mature for a sophomore and had several friends who were juniors or even seniors.

(US, Philippines) A second-year undergraduate student in a college or university, or a second-year student in a four-year secondary school or high school.

The filly had looked promising as a sophomore, but concerns over her health had prompted the owner to pull her from the season’s early races.

(US, horse-racing) A three-year-old horse.


all-American

/ˌɔːl əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/

/ˌɔl əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/

aitoamerikkalainen

comprising things wholly from the United States of America; made in the United States

He was an all-American basketball player last year.

After having conducted a country-wide poll of experts, Vanity Fair has chosen a truly All-American Collegiate Basketball Team. The nine picked is the result of the combined opinions of sporting editors, college coaches, graduate managers and old players from Cambridge, to Palo Alto and from Minneapolis to Atlanta.

1915 July, “Vanity Fair’s All-American College Basketball Team”, in Frank Crowninshield, editor, Vanity Fair, volume 4, number 5, New York, N.Y.: Vanity Fair Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 30:

I would rather a boy were a fine moral character, 5 feet 3 inches tall and unable to run a 100 yards in 20 seconds, than to see him 6 feet tall, weighing 180 pounds, an all-American full-back with a set of morals that disgraces his family and community.

1922 March 30, W[illiam] J[ames] Monilaw, “Papers Read at the Annual Convention of the Middle West Society of Physical Education, March 30, 31, April 1, 1922: President’s Address”, in James Huff McCurdy, editor, American Physical Education Review, volume XXVIII, number 2 (number 184 overall), Springfield, Mass.: American Physical Education Association, published February 1923, →OCLC, page 47, column 2:

In 1888 [Walter] Camp selected the first All-American team, an exercise that has continued into the twenty-first century. Each member of the team is chosen because he is the best of all players nationwide at playing his particular position.

2012, Larzer Ziff, “America as Middle Class: Adolescence, Frank Merriwell, Penrod”, in All-American Boy (Discovering America; 4), Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, →ISBN, page 95:

(US, chiefly sports) Of a person or a team, or some other thing: regarded as the best in the United States.


all-American

/ˌɔːl əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/

/ˌɔl əˈmɛɹ.ɪ.kən/

[Bennie] Oosterbaan won letters in football, basketball, and baseball, and was selected as an All-American end for three successive years.

1930, “Athletics”, in George E. Leonard, editor, Michiganensian of 1930, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Published by the Senior Class of the University of Michigan, →OCLC, page 191:

Among the players he [Ward Lambert] coached were the legendary John Wooden, a three-time All-American; three-time All-American Charles "Stretch" Murphy; and All-Americans Don White, Ray "Candy" Miller, George Spradling, Norm Cotton, Emmett Lowery, Robert Kessler, Jewell Young, and Paul Hoffman.

2002, “Standing Tall”, in Purdue Reamer Club, compiler, A University of Tradition: The Spirit of Purdue, West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, →ISBN, page 92:

[T]he All-American [American football player] in [Walter] Camp's sense is not typical but superior, the best in America at performing the specific role he has been assigned. An All-American is one-eleventh of a whole.

We lost but that was probably the game that meant the most to me. It might have made me an All-American. I was named All-American that year and the actress Kim Novak was our host for the All-American luncheon and dinners. God, she was so gorgeous.

2014, Paul Hornung, Chuck Carlson, “Under the Golden Dome”, in The Paul Hornung Scrapbook, Chicago, Ill.: Triumph Books, →ISBN, page 43:

In lacrosse, the legacy of greatness belongs to No. 22. And unlike football's 44, lacrosse's 22 is still in circulation and still churning out All-Americans.

2014, Scott Pitoniak, “The Legend of 22”, in 100 Things Syracuse Fans should Know & Do before They Die, Chicago, Ill.: Triumph Books, →ISBN, page 243:

(US, chiefly sports) A person or a team, or some other thing, regarded as the best in the United States.


bittersweet

bittersweets (plural)
bitter-sweet (alternative)

[ˈbɪɾɚˌswiʔt̚]

From Middle English bitterswete, biterswete, equivalent to bitter + sweet. Cognate with Saterland Frisian bitterswäit (“bittersweet”), West Frisian bittersoet (“bittersweet”), Dutch bitterzoet (“bittersweet”), German bittersüß (“bittersweet”), Danish bittersød (“bittersweet”), Swedish bittersöt (“bittersweet”).

cog

Over by the creek-bed scarlet-flamed sumac shouldered the silver-green of the willows, and orange-colored bittersweet crept through the tangle of wild plums.

1935, Bess Streeter Aldrich, chapter 43, in Spring Came on Forever:

(US) A vine, of the genus Celastrus, having small orange fruit that open to reveal red seeds.


nosebleed seat

You might want to bring binoculars if you will be in the nosebleed seats, so that you can see the action on the stage better.

A few fans who buy nosebleed seats to see Paul McCartney get the chance to see a Beatle as closely as they might have at the Cavern Club in 1962.

2023 August 10, Matthew Cantor, “‘Paul McCartney winked right at me’: the fans who buy nosebleed seats – and get whisked to the front”, in The Guardian, UK:

(Canada, US) A seat in the nosebleed section, usually cheaper and with a poorer view than other seats.


brigadier general

en-noun

brigadier general (plural brigadier generals)

brigadier generals (plural)
Brig. Gen. (alternative)


donut hole

donut holes (plural)
doughnut hole (alternative)

These donut holes are delicious!

(US, Canada) A small ball-shaped pastry, made in the same manner as a donut, roughly the size of the hole in a donut.

Very few younger Americans have probably ever heard of the “donut hole” in Medicare's prescription drug program, but if you're on Medicare and need expensive drugs it's likely you have.

2012, Nick Tate, ObamaCare Survival Guide: The Affordable Care Act and What It Means for You and Your Healthcare, page 138:

(US, insurance, welfare, slang) An income bracket where one is without benefits, even though benefits are available in the next lower and next higher brackets.


bully

en-adj

bully (comparative bullier, superlative bulliest)

bullier (comparative)
bulliest (superlative)

From 1530, as a term of endearment, probably a diminutive ( + -y) of Dutch boel (“lover; brother”), from Middle Dutch boel, boele (“brother; lover”), from Old Dutch *buolo, from Proto-Germanic *bōlô (compare Middle Low German bôle (“brother”), Middle High German buole (“brother; close relative; close relation”) (whence German Buhle (“lover”)), Old English Bōla, Bōlla (personal name), diminutive of expressive *bō- (“brother, father”). Compare also Latvian bālinš (“brother”). More at boy.
The term acquired a negative connotation during the 17th century; first ‘noisy, blustering fellow’ then ‘a person who is cruel to others’. Possibly influenced by bull (“male cattle”) or via the ‘prostitute's minder’ sense. The positive senses are dated, but survive in phrases such as bully pulpit.

onomatopoeic

expressive

a bully horse

To sing a bully song I'll try, / Bully for you, bully for you, / Gay as they make them, here I am, / Bully for you, for you.

1861, Daniel Bryant, Bryant's Songs from Dixie's Land, page 19:

She is a bully woman, not only a good mother, but a wonderful in-law

1916, The Independent, volumes 35-36, page 6:


pick up

en-verb

pick up (third-person singular simple present picks up, present participle picking up, simple past and past participle picked up)

picks up (present singular third-person)
picking up (participle present)
picked up (participle past)
picked up (past)

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

[…] there are now 98 officers of that rank who have been passed over one or more times, most of whom have little prospect of being picked up by future selection boards but will await only the completion of 21 years' service before going on the retired list.

1937, United States. Congress. Senate, Hearings, volume 2, page 141:

The list is about the same as when each class was commissioned, except for a small percentage who were passed over once or twice and then picked up.

1938, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Naval Affairs, Hearings on H.R. 9997 to Regulate the Distribution, Promotion, and Retirement of Officers of the Line of the Navy and for Other Purposes, page 3239:

(US, military, transitive) To promote somebody who was previously passed over.


salugi

Unknown. Attested in print from the 1950s; likely used earlier.

saloogie (alternative)
sloogie (alternative)
saluggi (alternative)
salugie (alternative)

They had seized the tan derby of one of their number; three others in sharp suits and silk waistcoats were tossing it around in a wild game of salugi.

1956, Gerald Green, The Last Angry Man, page 193:

Then he grabs a hat off Jim, a guy about my age who never says anything, and they all playing saloogie around him with it like a bunch of kids.

the taste of pencils and Louis Bocca's ear / torn off by the fence in a game of salugi.

1995, August Kleinzahler, “The Old Schoolyard in August”, in The American Poetry Review, volume 24, page 24:

(informal, US, New York) A keep-away game in which children throw around an object with the aim of keeping it away from a particular child (often the owner of the object) or from another group of children; keepings off.


pick up the tab

pick up the tab (third-person singular simple present picks up the tab, present participle picking up the tab, simple past and past participle picked up the tab)

picks up the tab (present singular third-person)
picking up the tab (participle present)
picked up the tab (participle past)
picked up the tab (past)

When the bill came to just 33,000 forints, I did something very out of character: I picked up the tab. It blew the budget for the day, but felt great.

2014 January 30, Seth Kugel, “Wintertime Bargains in Budapest”, in The New York Times:

Meanwhile, the taxpayer picked up the tab for over 50% of track and train costs at Northern, Merseyrail and the Transport for Wales rail operation.

2020 March 25, Philip Haigh, “Analysis: Where the money comes from... and where it goes”, in Rail, page 34:

(intransitive, idiomatic, chiefly US) To accept a bill and pay it, especially at a bar or restaurant.


hem and haw

hem and haw (third-person singular simple present hems and haws, present participle hemming and hawing, simple past and past participle hemmed and hawed)

hems and haws (present singular third-person)
hemming and hawing (participle present)
hemmed and hawed (participle past)
hemmed and hawed (past)
hem and hah (alternative)

If you hem and haw long enough, someone else will do it first.

(idiomatic, US) To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.

váhat

to contemplate rather than taking action


SSB

en-noun

SSB (countable and uncountable, plural SSBs)

sub surface ballistic
w:Ballistic missile submarine

(US Navy) Initialism of sub surface ballistic, a diesel powered submarine carrying ballistic missiles.


CVT

veterinary technician
veterinary technician#English

(US, Canada) Initialism of certified veterinary technician.


turducken

turducken (countable and uncountable, plural turduckens)

The main attraction at dinner this week is called "turducken." To make it, [Paul] Prudhomme stuffs a boneless chicken with a reddish sausage stuffing; the stuffed chicken is then stuffed into a boneless duck with cornbread stuffing; finally, the chicken and the duck are stuffed into boneless turkey with greenish oyster stuffing. When sliced, you have three birds and a rainbow of stuffings.

1982 November 29, Charles Michener, Linda R. Prout, “Glorious Food: The New American Cooking”, in Newsweek, volume 100, New York, N.Y.: Newsweek, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 92, column 2:

Turducken is a true niche item; a product that has its roots firmly established in Cajun country and is growing in popularity [...] Skip Shensky, managing partner of the All Cajun Food Co., says his company sold 1,500 turduckens this year. […] Broussard’s experience with the product is a little different. He and his brother grew up eating turducken.

1999, Meat and Poultry, volume 45, Mill Valley, Calif.: Oman Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 26:

Although I may never eat turducken [“Birds of […]

Now, I will admit that when it came time to lay knife on turducken, with everybody gathered around in avid anticipation, the result was horrifying. Instead of freeing a beautiful slice of marbled meat, my knife unleashed a steaming avalanche of something brown and granular onto the platter.

2003 January 4, Jim Kershner, “Happy Turducken Day”, in The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.: Cowles Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC; republished in Shaun O’L. Higgins, editor, Mountain Goats are My Weakness: And Other Tales of Life in the Northwest (A Spokesman-Review Book), Spokane, Wash.: New Media Ventures, 2004, →ISBN, page 46:

In his black Armani tuxedo, Dad set the first slice of turducken on one of the expensive china plates in a tall stack beside him and held it up.

2008, S. A. Bodeen, The Compound, Square Fish, published 2009, →ISBN, pages 103–104:

We eat turducken: a duck stuffed inside a chicken stuffed inside a turkey. The whole thing deep fat fried.

2009, Rebecca Wolff, editor, A Best of Fence: Fiction & Nonfiction, Fence Books, →ISBN, page 385:

LET’S EAT TURDUCKEN! Uh … Let’s not. It’s stuffed with a chicken … it’s stuffed with a duck …

RICARDO: [...] And is it the final stage of understanding what black matter and dark energy is that holds our turkey together for Thanksgiving, for instance? / CARROLL: That's – it's a great point because we live in a turducken universe. There's all sorts of different ingredients that are involved in the list of what goes into the cosmos we observe. There's dark energy. There's dark matter. There's ordinary matter. The Higgs boson is the final piece of the ordinary matter puzzle.

2012 November 16, Sean [Michael] Carroll, “Talk of the Nation: Searching for ‘The Particle at the End of the Universe’”, in NPR, archived from the original on 2014-04-17:

Bob: Listen, I figured out how to have our own Thanksgiving, stuffed inside Fischoeder's Thanksgiving, like a turducken. / Gene: A poultry within a poultry. It's like Inception with meat.

2012 November 18, Lizzie Molyneux, Wendy Molyneux, “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal”, in Bob’s Burgers, season 3, episode 5:

PAULA'S GUILT-FREE® TURTURTURDUCKDUCKENDUCKEN [...] DIRECTIONS: Stuff a turducken in a turducken in a turducken.

2014 November, Megan Amram, “Paula Deen’s Health-food Cookbook”, in Science… for Her!, New York, N.Y.: Scribner, →ISBN, page 35, column 2:

While straining to wedge a fresh slice of turducken into your gaping maw you choke to death on a stray bone and the irony of your untimely demise.

2016, John C. Havens, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, →ISBN:

Can’t decide? Then eat turducken. That’s a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey.

2020, Julia Fowler, Embrace Your Southern, Sugar!, Gibbs Smith, →ISBN:

Significantly, the explanation of the TDK’s true purpose is provided while the man stands above a test room containing an American family: mother, father, and son are each obese, and they sit on a couch staring at a television screen and eating turducken sandwiches.

2020, Kelli Wilhelm, ““Where’s the pie?” Nostalgic and Apocalyptic Foodways in Supernatural”, in Lisa Macklem, Dominick Grace, editors, Supernatural Out of the Box: Essays on the Metatextuality of the Series, Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., →ISBN, part three (“Our lives are not for public consumption”), page 115:

(US, cooking) A dish, usually roasted, consisting of a deboned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck that has been stuffed with a small deboned chicken, and also containing stuffing.

火鴨雞 /火鸭鸡

dish consisting of a deboned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck that has been stuffed with a small deboned chicken


macher

From Yiddish מאַכער (makher, “influential person”, literally “one who makes”) from מאַכן (makhn, “to make”). Cognate, naturally, to English maker and German Macher.

bor

An ordinary man doesn’t jump the Snake River Canyon / with nothing underneath his ass / but a two-wheeled, fin-stabilised X-1 Skycycle / and a seven-figure guarantee from some macher in LA.

2005 October 20, August Kleinzahler, “A Valentine’s: Regarding the Impractibility of Our Love”, in London Review of Books, volume 27, number 20, page 6:

Finally, Mr. Wall Street macher, there's our own Abe Silverfish, a man who has editing awards from prestige film festivals in Tanganyika and Bali.

2007, Woody Allen, “Calisthenics, Poison Ivy, Final Cut”, in Mere Anarchy:

The meaty and more familiar parts of Anna’s story — passing as a German heiress, ripping off tony hotels, brazenly exploiting narcissistic machers and star-struck working women — are told in flashback as Vivian reports her article.

2022 February 10, Mike Hale, “‘Inventing Anna’ Review: The SoHo Scammer, Explained at Length”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US, informal) An important person, often in the negative sense of self-important; a bigwig.


AFP

(US) Initialism of Association of Fundraising Professional.


AFUE

(US) Initialism of annual fuel utilization efficiency.


all that

... due to the fact that the operators on the third shift at Kennedy were not all that—you know, they weren't the A Team—they had gotten themselves in a sequence where they dropped power on the vehicle.

2000, John Aaron, Johnson Space Center Oral History Project:

My muffin top is all that / whole-grain, low-fat / I know you want a piece of that / but I'm just here to dance / […] / So back up offa me / You're weirding me out

2006, Robert Carlock, “Jack-Tor”, in 30 Rock, season 1, episode 5:

(US, slang) Of especially good quality; particularly excellent.


EOMB

(US) Initialism of explanation of Medicare benefits.


BB

en-noun

BB (countable and uncountable, plural BBs)

BBs (plural)
B.B. (alternative)
B. B. (alternative)
bb (alternative)


PSB

PSB (countable and uncountable, plural PSBs)

Presidential Service Badge
w:Presidential Service Badge

(military, US) Initialism of Presidential Service Badge.


SFC

SFC (countable and uncountable, plural SFCs)

Sergeant First Class
w:Sergeant First Class

(military, US) Initialism of Sergeant First Class.


licorice root

licorice root (countable and uncountable, plural licorice roots)

licorice roots (plural)
liquorice root (alternative)

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

Glycyrrhiza glabra
Glycyrrhiza glabra#Translingual

(US) The root of the liquorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, from which a sweet flavoring with an anise scent is extracted.


intervention

intervention (countable and uncountable, plural interventions)

From Middle French intervention, from Latin interventiō.
Morphologically intervene + -tion.

(US, law) A legal motion through which a person or entity who has not been named as a party to a case seeks to have the court order that they be made a party.


corrections

/kəˈɹɛkʃənz/

(US, Canada, law) Relating to the punishment, treatment, or supervision of persons who have been convicted of a crime


LCS

League Championship Series
w:League Championship Series

(US, baseball) Initialism of League Championship Series for each of the two leagues of Major League Baseball.


LCS

LCS (countable and uncountable, plural LCSs)

The “rotational deployment” of the vessels, called littoral combat ships (LCS), comes as China continues to flex its muscles in the South China Sea and tensions remain on the Korean Peninsula. / “We will soon see up to four LCS here in Singapore as we rotationally deploy Seventh Fleet ships,” said Rear Admiral Charles Williams.

2015 February 18, “US to base four warships in Singapore as China flexes military muscles”, in The Guardian:

littoral combat ship
littoral combat ship#English

(US, military, nautical, countable) Initialism of littoral combat ship: a specialized type of frigate for green water and coastal combat and transoceanic capability designated by the US Navy.


wee-wee

wee-wee (countable and uncountable, plural wee-wees)

wee-wees (plural)
weewee (alternative)
wee wee (alternative)

Reduplication of wee; onomatopoeic for the sound of urination.

“I agree he’s gorgeous,” said his friend, “but someone told me he has the smallest wee-wee in New York.”

1978, Andrew Holleran, chapter 2, in Dancer from the Dance, New York: New American Library, page 45:


tick off

en-verb

tick off (third-person singular simple present ticks off, present participle ticking off, simple past and past participle ticked off)

ticks off (present singular third-person)
ticking off (participle present)
ticked off (participle past)
ticked off (past)

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

It really ticks me off when people don't use proper punctuation.

(Canada, US, transitive) To annoy, aggravate.

Fred was ticked off by the teacher for playing around in class.

Having ticked us off in this way, the rascal had an elaborate description of rails at the pit mouth, and of a zigzag excavation by which funicular trains were to burrow into the earth.

1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed:

(British, Australia, transitive, historically US) To reprimand.


cut off

cut off (third-person singular simple present cuts off, present participle cutting off, simple past and past participle cut off)

cuts off (present singular third-person)
cutting off (participle present)
cut off (participle past)
cut off (past)

(transitive, Canada, US) To swerve in front of (another car) while driving.

kiilata

to swerve in front of another car while driving

Cut off the lamp so I can get some sleep.

(transitive, US, regional, Southern US) To turn off or switch off (an electrical device).

run around like a chicken with its head cut off


make out

make out (third-person singular simple present makes out, present participle making out, simple past and past participle made out)

makes out (present singular third-person)
making out (participle present)
made out (participle past)
made out (past)

Oh, you were on a TV game show? How did you make out?

Regarding money—I shall economize and make out probably very well from now on—without any outside help.

'Will this little shack serve – or do we go further?' I asked.
'Oh, I guess we'll make out,' she said. And together we waded through the delicate cream carpet to explore.

1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids:

(now chiefly US, regional, intransitive) To manage, get along; to do (well, badly etc.).

We found a secluded spot where we could make out in private.

(slang, chiefly US, intransitive) To embrace and kiss passionately.

(slang, chiefly US, intransitive) To engage in heavy petting or sexual intercourse.

milovat se

to engage in heavy petting or sexual intercourse


FMLA

(US, law) Initialism of Family and Medical Leave Act.


graveyard

/ˈɡɹeɪvˌjɑɹd/

From grave + yard. Compare West Frisian begraafplak (“graveyard”), Dutch begraafplaats (“graveyard”), Norwegian gravplass (“graveyard”).

kirkegård

final storage place for collections of things no longer used

(US, slang) Synonym of suicide (“beverage combining all available flavors at a soda fountain”)


pipe dream

pipe dreams (plural)
pipedream (alternative)

From pipe + dream, referring to the fantasies experienced when smoking an opium pipe. Compare Old English pīpdrēam (“the sound or music of a pipe”), which is formed identically but has a different meaning.

cog

Coordinate term: figment of one's imagination

I think that his plan to become a professional athlete is a pipe dream and that he should stay in school.

Only a year ago it would have needed a "super-Micawber" to be optimistic that the railways would once again pay their way. But it was no longer a pipe dream that B.R. could make a profit, the way to do it was now clear.

1962 December, “Dr. Beeching Previews the Plan for British Railways”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 376:

(idiomatic, originally US) A desire or idea which is unlikely to materialize, or a plan which is unlikely to work; a near impossibility.

lugkasteel

חלומות באספמיה m pl (ḥalomót be aspámya, literally “dreaming of Spain”)

מִגְדָּל פּוֹרֵחַ בָּאֲוִיר m (migdál poréaḥ baavír, literally “tower flying in the air”)

несбы́точная мечта́ f (nesbýtočnaja mečtá, literally “unrealizable dream”)

возду́шные за́мки m pl (vozdúšnyje zámki, literally “castles in the air”)


loon

Of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse lómr (“loon”), ultimately imitative of the bird's cry, particularly when it's in danger. Distantly related to lament, probably sharing Proto-Indo-European *leh₂- (expressive root).

onomatopoeic

imitative

The Loone is an ill ſhap'd thing like a Cormorant; but that he can neyther goe nor flye; he maketh a noiſe ſometimes like a Sovvgelders horne.

1634, William Wood, “Of the Birds and Fowles both of Land and Water”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Bellamie, […], →OCLC, 1st part, page 31:

[O]h, yes! the loon does shriek dreadfully - particularly when there's fine rain […]

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H. L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 286:

He came again to her and she said: ‘Run swifter than the deer, be more cunning than the beaver, dive deeper than the loon.’

1903, Zane Grey, Betty Zane, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, →OCLC:

And I listened for a voice;— / But my heart was all I heard; / Not a screech-owl, not a loon, / Not a tree-toad said a word.

1921, Edna St. Vincent Millay, “The Blue-Flag in the Bog”, in Second April:

(US, Canada) Any of various birds, of the order Gaviiformes, of North America and Europe that dive for fish and have a short tail, webbed feet and a yodeling cry.


cook-off

en-noun

cook-off (countable and uncountable, plural cook-offs)

(countable, chiefly US) A cooking contest.


denounce

en-verb

denounce (third-person singular simple present denounces, present participle denouncing, simple past and past participle denounced)

denounces (present singular third-person)
denouncing (participle present)
denounced (participle past)
denounced (past)

From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō (“to announce, to denounce, to threaten”), from de + nūntiō (“to announce, to report, to denounce”), from nūntius (“messenger, message”).

uder

(US, historical) To claim the right of working a mine that is abandoned or insufficiently worked.


QDRO

domestic relations
domestic relations#English

(US, law) Acronym of qualified domestic relations order.


EDRO

(US, law) Acronym of eligible domestic relations order.


DOL

Department of Labor
w:Department of Labor


EBSA

w:Employee Benefits Security Administration

(US) Initialism of Employee Benefits Security Administration (a division of the Department of Labor)


OCAW

w:Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union

(US, labor union) Initialism of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union.


Jints

Eye dialect for popular New York City pronunciation of giants

(US, sports) Nickname for many teams with name including Giants.


motherhood statement

en-noun

motherhood statement (plural motherhood statements)

Probably from the fact that virtually everyone would say that motherhood is a positive thing.

[A]n objective needs to be followed up by some specific form of measurement or it is meaningless – It is a motherhood statement.

1976, Canadian Electronics Engineering, volume 20, Toronto, Ont.: Maclean-Hunter, →ISSN, →OCLC, page ccviii:

Technology transfer and the principle of making useful research and development information available to all public sectors is now being endorsed by everybody. I really don't know anybody who objects. As a matter of fact, by now it has become a motherhood statement. The question is, how do we achieve the blessed state of motherhood?

1979 June 12, Andrew Assur (witness), “Statement of Dr. Andrew Assur, Chief Scientist, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, N.H.”, in The Role of the Federal Laboratories in Domestic Technology Transfer: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology of the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, […] (House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology; no. 96-77), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 80:

When English judges speak of rights they often do so in terms that are usually imprecise and lacking in clear principle. The problem is worsened by the frequent judicial recourse to motherhood statements, which are not simply imprecise but provide generalised statements that are difficult to disagree with at a conceptual level. […] [M]otherhood statements assume or imply the existence of what [Martin] Loughlin described as an 'imaginary consensus' on important doctrinal principles.

2008, Matthew Groves, “The Surrogacy Principle and Motherhood Statements in Administrative Law”, in Linda Pearson, Carol Harlow, Michael Taggart, editors, Administrative Law in a Changing State: Essays in Honour of Mark Aronson, Oxford, Portland, Or.: Hart Publishing, →ISBN, page 93:

At worst, the term ‘ownership’ becomes a ‘motherhood statement’ which, whilst always sounding worthy, can be entirely lacking in specified content. The term ownership is used to imply varying degrees of local control that are typically not realized.

2009, Simon Chesterman, “Ownership in Theory and in Practice: Transfer of Authority in UN Statebuilding Operations”, in David Chandler, editor, Statebuilding and Intervention: Policies, Practices and Paradigms, Abingdon, Oxon., New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 34:

One could say that at least Culpo's response referred to something specific in her life, and was not just the typical motherhood statement expected of polished beauty contestants – the proverbial Miss Universe answer.

2012 December 21, Rose-an Jessica Dioquino, Gian C. Geronimo, “Janine impresses in Q&A, says Miss Universe needs ‘strong mind’”, in GMA News and Public Affairs, Quezon City, archived from the original on 2018-12-17:

(chiefly Canada, US) A vague, feel-good platitude, especially one made by a politician, that most people would agree with.


mugwump

The noun is borrowed from Massachusett mugquomp, mummugquomp (“war leader”). Folk etymology reinterpreted it as referring to a person who sat on the fence with their mug (“face”) on one side and wump (“rump”) on the other, which influenced political cartoons during the 1884 United States presidential election.
The verb is derived from the noun.

(US, historical) A member of the Republican Party who declined to support the party's nominee James G. Blaine (1830–1893) during the 1884 United States presidential election, believing him to be corrupt, and instead supported the Democratic Party's candidate Grover Cleveland (1837–1908).

(Australia, US, by extension) One who switches from supporting one political party to another, especially for personal benefit.

Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke [...] whom the papers are making such a fuss about.

1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court: A McLean Mystery, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

(Australia, US, by extension, colloquial, somewhat derogatory) A person who stays neutral or non-committal; a fence sitter; also, a person who maintains an aloof and often self-important demeanour.


EIA

Energy Information Administration
w:Energy Information Administration

(US) Initialism of Energy Information Administration. It is a division of the Department of Energy.


BIA

(US) Initialism of Bureau of Indian Affairs (a U.S. government federal agency for dealing with Native Amerindians).


concession

concession (usually uncountable, plural concessions)

From late Middle English concession, from Middle French concession, from Latin concessiō (“a grant, permission, conceding”), from concēdō.

der

Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose, particularly:

(chiefly US) The premises granted to a business as a concession (see below)

alivuokrattu tila

A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:

(chiefly US) A right to operate a quasi-independent franchise of a larger company.

franchising-oikeus

(chiefly US) A right to operate a quasi-independent business within another's premises, as with concessions stands.

franchise

a smaller business operating under another's aegis

Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. And I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time... tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

2000 December 13, Al Gore, Concession Speech:

(originally US) An admission of defeat following an election.

(chiefly US) A franchise: a business operated as a concession (see above).

(chiefly US, usually in the plural) An item sold within a concession (see above) or from a concessions stand.

franchise-tuote

item sold within a concession or from a concessions stand


nativism

en-noun

nativism (countable and uncountable, plural nativisms)

To understand just how rare, look back into history to, say, the Johnson Act of 1924. Its national-origins quota system reverberated with nativism and racism.

1982 March 18, “Not Nativist, Not Racist, Not Mean”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

If there is to be another iteration of a Trump presidency, or a successful campaign by one of his acolytes, the scientific denial may be dialed down somewhat while retaining the reflex nativism.

2021 November 21, Oliver Milman, “Climate denial is waning on the right. What’s replacing it might be just as scary”, in The Guardian:

(chiefly US) A policy of favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants.


drugstore

drugstores (plural)
drug store (alternative)

(chiefly US, Canada) Synonym of pharmacy, especially a small standalone general store which includes a pharmacy.


PVT

PVT (countable and uncountable, plural PVTs)

PVTs (plural)
Pte (alternative)
Pte. (alternative)
Pvt (alternative)
Pvt. (alternative)

(US, military) Abbreviation of private (“soldier”).


Mirandize

en-verb

Mirandize (third-person singular simple present Mirandizes, present participle Mirandizing, simple past and past participle Mirandized)

Mirandizes (present singular third-person)
Mirandizing (participle present)
Mirandized (participle past)
Mirandized (past)

From Miranda + -ize. The former refers to the US Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona.

1981. Television program Hill Street Blues, Season 1, Episode 7, "Film At Eleven".
Lt. Furillo: Be sure to Mirandize them, Ray.

[1997. New York State Bar Journal, "Volume 69"
We credit Judge John G. Gabbert of California with the first reported usage of "Mirandize" […] ]

[2007. Anu Garg, "The dord, the diglet, and an avocado or two"
To mirandize is to advise people under arrest of their legal rights, such as the right to remain silent under questioning, the right to legal counsel, etc.]

2012. Garrett Graff, "The Threat Matrix"
There was also a fierce debate over whether to Mirandize the detainees immediately. “You wouldn't Mirandize an American in this situation,” Knowles argued with Justice Department officials.

(transitive, US, law enforcement) To inform someone who has been arrested of their constitutional rights.


hot tub

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

(chiefly US) A large tub, often situated outdoors, filled with hot water and used for communal leisure bathing.


nearside

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

(US, historical) A streetcar designed to discharge passengers on the near side of an intersection, rather than the far side.


HST

Hubble Space Telescope
w:Hubble Space Telescope

(space science, US, NASA) Initialism of Hubble Space Telescope.

(US, politics, historical) Initialism of Harry S. Truman.


John Hancock

Named after American merchant and statesman John Hancock (1737–1793), the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. According to legend, he signed his name prominently to be sure George III could read it, causing his name to become an eponym for a signature. However, other examples show that Hancock always wrote his signature this way.

named-after

John Hancock
John Singleton Copley
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Please put your John Hancock on the dotted line to close the deal.

The man is pressed for his "John Hancock" with all the persuasiveness and eloquence of a practiced operator on masculine vanity.

1879, Bates Harrington, How 'tis Done: A Thorough Ventilation of the Numerous Schemes Conducted by Wandering Canvassers, together with the Various Advertising Dodges for the Swindling of the Public, Chicago, Ill.: Fidelity Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 63:

Can I have your auto—your John Hancock, please?

1996, 30:38 from the start, in Space Jam, Burbank, Calif.: Warner Home Video, →ISBN:

Audrey and crew even squeezed frail grocer Frank Morgan, the victim, into adding his John Hancock to the parole petition. The cherry was getting Hanging Judge Joe Williams to sign on as well.

2005, Dary Matera, John Dillinger: The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal, trade paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Carroll & Graf Publishers, →ISBN, page 36:

[Jack] Lew is not the first Treasury secretary to change his John Hancock upon arrival at 1500 Pennsylvania Ave.

2013 June 18, Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Treasury Secretary Jack Lew unveils new signature after quibbles with his scribble”, in The Washington Post:


John Hancock

en-verb

John Hancock (third-person singular simple present John Hancocks, present participle John Hancocking, simple past and past participle John Hancocked)

John Hancocks (present singular third-person)
John Hancocking (participle present)
John Hancocked (participle past)
John Hancocked (past)

Billy Rose inked his contract with AGVA this week and the document only needs the signature of Matt Shelvey, head of the union, to put it into effect. Altho the deal was made in mid-summer, John Hancocking by both sides is coming about only now.

1944 October 21, “Finally”, in The Billboard, volume 56, number 43, page 23:

(US, transitive) To sign; to write one's signature on (something).


zuisin

Probably from an Algonquian language; compare Ojibwe zhiishiib (“duck”).


barrio

Borrowed from Spanish barrio, from Arabic بَرِّيّ (barriyy, “wild”).

After World War II, its prospering working-class white residents moved to other, more upscale suburban developments, and by the 1950s the area had become an isolated ethnic enclave with its own barrio gang.

1993, Diego Vigil, “The Established Gang”, in Scott Cummings, Daniel J. Monti, editors, Gangs: The Origins and Impact of Contemporary Youth Gangs in the United States, page 98:

Mr. Jones and me, stumbling through the barrio

1993, “Mr. Jones”, performed by Counting Crows:

(informal, US) An area or neighborhood in a US city inhabited predominantly by Spanish-speakers or people of Hispanic origin.


chaise lounge

American alteration of French chaise longue (literally “long chair”), due to a conflation with English lounge (the term, of uncertain etymology, is possibly a distant cognate of French long); attested from 19th century.

der

Old Tinker, in evening dress, sat uncomfortably, sideways, upon the edge of a wicker and brocade “chaise lounge,” finishing a tiny glass of chartreuse, while Talbot Potter, in the middle of the room, took leave of a second guest who had been dining with him.

1921, Booth Tarkington, Harlequin and Columbine:


headlight

Oh, well. She's got... great... casabas.[…]Well, you know. Melons.[…]Hoo-has? Honkers? Hooters? Headlights? Uh... tatas? Teeters? Tweeters? Tom-toms? Tetons?[…]I'm trying to say it. Uh, meatballs. Mangoes. Cream pies. Cupcakes? Uh... bangers? Bouncers? Bulumbas?[…]Bazongas? Breasts! I said it.

1993, Quantum Leap, season 5, episode 14, spoken by Al Calavicci (Dean Stockwell):

(US, slang, vulgar, chiefly in the plural) A woman's breast.

(US, slang, chiefly in the plural) A jewel; especially a diamond.

Lysergic acid diethylamide
lysergic acid diethylamide#English

(US, slang, chiefly in the plural) Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).


hipster

From hip + -ster. First attested for someone carrying something on their hip in the U.S. in the 1920s. Attested as a variant of hepster in the 1940s, for a follower of the latest fashions/trends/styles.

bootleg

v.; from hiding flasks in the boot, or stocking

(US, obsolete, Prohibition) A person who wears a hip flask (of alcohol).

(US, obsolete, 1930s) A dancer, particularly a female one.


masa

en-noun

masa (usually uncountable, plural masas)

From Spanish masa (“dough”). Doublet of mass.

The chef Fermín Núñez of Suerte, in Austin, Texas, considers masa “the canvas of what Mexican cooking is all about.” “Without masa,” he said, “there’s no tortillas, and, without tortillas, there’s no tacos!”

2023 July 7, Rick A. Martínez, quoting Fermín Núñez, “For the Best Tortillas (and Gorditas and Tetelas), You Need Fresh Masa”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US) Maize dough made from freshly prepared hominy, used for making tortillas, tamales, etc.


mezzanine

PIE word
 *médʰyos
The noun is borrowed from French mezzanine, and from its etymon Italian mezzanino, from mezzano (“(adjective) middle; (noun) go-between”) + -ino (diminutive suffix). Mezzano is derived from Latin mediānus (“central, middle”, adjective), from medius (“mid, middle”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos (“middle”)) + -ānus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’).
The adjective and verb are derived from the noun.

der

(Canada, US) The lowest balcony in an auditorium, cinema, theatre, etc.; the dress circle.


probable cause

en-noun

probable cause (countable and uncountable, plural probable causes)

(US, law, uncountable) Reasonable grounds for making an arrest or conducting a personal or property search.

相當理由 /相当理由

reasonable grounds for making an arrest or conducting a personal or property search


World Series

(US, baseball) The best-of-seven game series played annually in late October-early November to determine the year's championship of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, played between two teams, one each in the National League and the American League.


MLB

There was no repeat rainbow rebellion during last Saturday’s Pride Night at Tropicana Field after MLB introduced a policy this season forbidding teams from changing their uniforms to mark local themed events.

2023 June 12, Tom Dart, “US culture wars come to baseball as MLB celebrates Pride month”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Major League Baseball
w:Major League Baseball

(US, Canada, baseball) Initialism of Major League Baseball.


jitney

1886, originally for a five-cent US coin (a nickel); use for taxis and buses due to these services originally charging five cents as fare, popularized circa 1915.
The etymology is uncertain; it is believed to originate from Louisiana Creole jetnée, from French jeton (“token, coin-sized metal disc”), though this is disputed. Evidence for the Louisiana Creole French origin includes the geographic distribution (Southeastern US, especially Black/African-American), and early spelling as gitney, which is common French spelling for the /ʒi/ pronunciation.

der

(US, archaic) Synonym of nickel, a 5-cent coin or amount.


jitney

(US, archaic) Synonym of cheap, very inexpensive.


safekeeping

en-noun

safekeeping (usually uncountable, plural safekeepings)

(US) not returning checks; a system wherein banks keep checks (cheques) that people write, rather than returning them to the account holder with their monthly statement.


-x

The letter x is prototypically pronounced [ks] in English; it therefore serves as a convenient shorthand for the digraphs (cs, ks, etc.) or trigraphs (cks etc.) that would otherwise represent that consonant cluster.

blax (“blacks”), clox (“clocks”), fax (“facts”), folx (“folks”), hax (“hacks”), pix (“pics”), punx (“punks”), snax (“snacks”), sox (“socks”), stix (“sticks”), tix (“tickets”), trax (“tracks”)

(chiefly US, informal) Used to replace a /ks/ sound, especially in monosyllabic words ending in -cks or -ks.


American as apple pie

Josh Billings is as American as apple pie or the corncob pipe.

1932, Cyril Clemens, Josh Billings, Yankee Humorist, page 178:

The book is as American as apple pie, or spoon bread, or baked beans, and its influence must have been great during those times.

1934, Jerry Wallace, A Parson at Large: Being an Account of Mason Locke Weems:

(US, simile) Having characteristics considered quintessential to American life; very American.


attending

All the new interns had heard of his operative speed, his finesse under the attending's glare, and his memorization of the current surgical literature.

2002, Harry Lee Kraus, Could I Have This Dance?, page 45:

All too often when taking a history, residents and attendings in a hurry will simply use the cut-and-paste function to save time and bypass asking potentially important questions that have been asked before.

2009 March 11, “Doctor-Patient-Computer Relationships”, in New York Times:

(Canada, US) A physician on the staff of a hospital, especially the principal one that supervises a patient's care.


laws

(US, slang, street slang, uncommon) The police.


vide

en-verb

vide (third-person singular simple present vides, present participle viding, simple past and past participle vided)

vides (present singular third-person)
viding (participle present)
vided (participle past)
vided (past)

(US, African-American Vernacular) divide (separate into parts, cleave asunder)


suspender

(US) An item of apparel consisting of a strap worn over the shoulder and used to hold up trousers.


returned

en-adj

returned (comparative more returned, superlative most returned)

more returned (comparative)
most returned (superlative)

There are about thirty full-blooded returned men in this state whom I believe are not entitled to the old-age pension.

1941, Pearl Gibbs, radio broadcast, in Heiss & Minter, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin 2008, p. 38

(US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) Back home having been discharged from military service.


Kobe

Dave Chappelle
Kobe
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
NBA

After NBA player Kobe Bryant, emulating an earlier use of the name of Michael Jordan. Popularized by Dave Chappelle in a 2004 sketch. Kobe Bryant's parent named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.

(throws aforementioned paper cup at Russell Byrd– hits Byrd in the head) KOBE!
[…]
Derrick Nix: Are you serious? You threw a crumpled paper cup at his head, hit him, and then yelled “Kobe!”

2012 January 18, The Black Sheep, volume 6, number 2, Michigan State University, published 2012 January 17, page 7:

Miguel: When you write a bad draft of your Signal article, there’s only one thing to do to it — smash it up into a ball, throw it to the nearest recycle bin and scream “KOBE!”

2016 April 20, The Signal, volume XLIV, number 2, The College of New Jersey, published 2016 April 19, page 27:

As I spend 10 minutes debating what to order, a kid nearby entertains himself by squirting free edamame beans across the restaurant. I try the same, saying “Kobe!” as I shoot one in my mouth at arm’s length on the first try.

2019 March 22, OC Weekly, volume 24, number 30, Orange County, California: Duncan McIntosh Company, published 2019 March 20, page 20:

(slang, US) Exclaimed, while throwing something at a target, as a prediction or acknowledgement of accuracy.


chica

"But, I thought you wanted to come with us. There are some hot chicas just waiting for the Black Wolf boys."

2005, Magnolia Belle, Black Wolf: Lakota Man:

(Canada, US, informal) A Latin-American girl; a Latina.


chico

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

(Canada, US, informal) A Latin-American boy; a Latino.


flusher

From Middle English flusshere, equivalent to flush + -er.

Each flusher is typically paid $20 to $50. Fleets of cars, buses, and other vehicles are also at the ready to ferry voters to and from the polls.

1996, Larry J. Sabato, Glenn R. Simpson, Dirty Little Secrets: The Persistence of Corruption in American Politics, →ISBN, page 191:

(US, politics) A worker for a political campaign who encourages voters to vote on Election Day.


neocon

[The film's] message is that Iraq's fabled "weapons of mass destruction" did not exist, and that neocons within the administration fabricated them, lied about them, and were ready to kill to cover up their deception.

March 12, 2010, Roger Ebert, "Facts May Be Debatable, but Thrills Certainly Not: Green Zone", "Movies" column, Universal Press Syndicate, Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Universal

(US, possibly derogatory, politics) A neoconservative.


esquire

From Middle English esquier, from Old French escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer (compare modern French écuyer (“shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire, equerry, rider, horseman”)), from Late Latin scūtārius (“shieldmaker, shield-bearer”), from Latin scūtum (“shield”); probably akin to English hide (“to cover”). The term squire is the result of apheresis. Compare equerry, escutcheon.


DIA

Defense Intelligence Agency
w:en:Defense Intelligence Agency

(US, military) Initialism of Defense Intelligence Agency.

(US, aviation) Initialism of Denver International Airport.


hayride

(US) A recreational ride in a vehicle full of hay.


cougar

From French couguar, from Portuguese cuguardo, a deformation of Brazilian Portuguese suçuarana (earlier çuçuarana), perhaps from Old Tupi suasuarana (“deerlike animal”), from suasú (“deer”); compare sɨwasuarána (“cervine”)) or perhaps from Guaraní guaçuara).

A cougar approached Warren at the Palomino Club and asked for a dance.

I am 26 years old and in a respectful but super-sexual relationship with a recent divorcée in her 40s. (A "cougar," in local slang.)

[2001 June 7, Dan Savage, “Count Every Vote”, in The Stranger:

Barney Stinson: She's a cougar, Ted! / Robin Scherbatsky: I thought you said you can't be a cougar if you're over 50.

2010, “Home Wreckers”, in How I Met Your Mother, season 5, episode 20 (television production):

“Younger can be good. How much younger?” Regina asked, inspecting the appetizer plates for any lingering bites. “I don't know,” Alexa said frowning. “Why does that matter?” “Less than eight years makes you a Puma. Over eight years makes you a Cougar,” Regina said wisely, grinning as Lauren nodded excitedly in agreement.

2011, Donna McDonald, Dating A Cougar, →ISBN:

(Canada, US, slang) An older woman who actively seeks the casual, often sexual, companionship of younger men, by implication a female “sexual predator”.

kotka

slang: older woman who seeks younger men


Mutt and Jeff

From characters in a comic strip by U.S. cartoonist Harry Conway ("Bud") Fisher, first published in 1908.

1962, "Facial Farceur" (film review of A Matter of WHO), Time, 10 Aug.,
The bowler-hatted Terry-Thomas and Cooper's gangling American business partner (Alex Nicol) team up, Mutt-and-Jeff fashion.

(chiefly US, slang) Names given to a pair of companions, usually male, of whom one is tall and the other short.


bowtie

(US) A kind of road intersection. See Bowtie (road).


NADF

(US) Initialism of National Arbor Day Foundation.


Ali Baba

From Arabic عَلِيّ بَابَا (ʕaliyy bābā). The use of Ali Baba to designate a type of container originates from the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (see the use as proper noun below), suggesting the appearance of the oil jars in which the thieves hide in the story.

bor

عَلِيّ بَابَا

Arabic عَلِيّ بَابَا (ʕaliyy bābā)

(slang, ethnic slur, US, military) An Iraqi.


spoonbill

From spoon + bill, owing to the shape of the animal's beak.

Polyodon spathula
Polyodon spathula#Translingual

(US) A species of fish, Polyodon spathula, native to the Mississippi/Ohio/Missouri river basin, or extinct close relatives.