Zapple doctrine

Named after U.S. Senate Commerce Committee counselor Nicholas Zapple.

(US, law, historical) An extension of the fairness doctrine to political candidates' spokespeople and supporters, mandating that, if one candidate's supporters were allowed to buy airtime, then supporters of opposing candidates should have the opportunity to buy a comparable amount of airtime for their candidates.


read-in

Deverbal of read in or read + -in; modelled on lie-in and sit-in.

(US, historical) A protest in which demonstrators gather in or occupy a segregated library in order to read.


real diaper

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

(Canada, US) Synonym of real nappy (“a washable cloth nappy”).


hog call

(US, regional) A loud, shrill call made to attract domestic hogs.


hog caller

(US, regional) An individual who makes hog calls.


hog calling

(US, regional) The making of hog calls, often taking place during a competition.


hog age

en-noun

hog age (usually uncountable, plural hog ages)

The misfortune is that little men are uniformly great in their own estimation, and they cannot see that the rights of others and the law stand in their way sometimes. Little men get cured of those elevated notions, as little boys get cured of the hog age.

1882 August 24, Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, volume XLIX, number 200, Bangor, Me.: Boutelle & Burr, page [2], column 4:

The best proof of this is that a great many girls of fourteen or fifteen are just at a period of intense, almost morbid, moral development, whereas boys at that time of life are commonly in what is known as the "hog age".

1916, Walter Swain Hinchman, The American School, A Study of Secondary Education, page 127:

A strong affection naturally had existed between Helen and her mother from her childhood on. This had increased during her teens, even though that was the daughter's "hog age," as her mother termed it.

1952, John McKendree Springer, I Love the Trail, A Sketch of the Life of Helen Emily Springer, page 29:

Hog-age was the period between boyhood and manhood.

[1963, Barbara K. Walker (editor), The Erie Canal, Gateway to Empire, page 99:

Hog age refers to male adolescence, that awkward time between boyhood and manhood.

[2000, Sara Rath, The Complete Pig, An Entertaining History of Pigs of the World, page 74:

Psychological-age-16: "The hog-age." Boy thinks he knows everything, writes his philosophy.

2007, Bob Gebelein, The Mental Environment (mostly about Mind Pollution), page 114:

(dated, US, informal) The period of adolescence.


TIGTA

w:Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

(US, government) Initialism of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.


coon song

(US, music, historical) A song in a genre of music that presented a stereotype of black people.


coon tune

(US, slang, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) A song or piece of music performed by a black musician.


hog feast

(US, dated) A feast or celebration held following the killing of the family pig by a cottager or peasant.


booze baron

(US) A person who organised the illegal production and sale of alcohol during a Prohibition.


OANN

They added, “OANN’s internal and external discussions about the Stolen Passwords represent circumstantial evidence that OANN intended to harm Smartmatic and intended to undermine people’s confidence in the 2020 election.”

2024 February 7, Marshall Cohen, “Pro-Trump network OAN’s president solicited more info after receiving ‘stolen’ Smartmatic passwords, court documents allege”, in CNN:

While these fights may offer immediate political wins, the world does not live and die by the rhythms of American news cycles or the alternative reality of Fox News and OANN.

2025 February 9, Ben Rhodes, “This Isn’t the Donald Trump America Elected”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

One America News Network
w:One America News Network

(US television) Initialism of One America News Network.


grandfather in

en-verb

grandfather in (third-person singular simple present grandfathers in, present participle grandfathering in, simple past and past participle grandfathered in)

grandfathers in (present singular third-person)
grandfathering in (participle present)
grandfathered in (participle past)
grandfathered in (past)

(transitive, chiefly US, law) Synonym of grandfather


Gateway to the West

(US) Synonym of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.


contour diaper

So-called because the fabric is contoured around the wearer.

The contour diaper is regarded by some experts as an attempt to improve an unimprovable product. Since these are hemmed, there is a chance that the thick edge will chafe—thus counteracting the possible advantages of less bulk in the diaper area. They are awkward to stack neatly.

1970, California Farmer, volume 232, page 9:

A new R&D effort produced Huggies, a contour diaper with an hourglass shape and elastic leg bands. Introduced in 1978, the new brand achieved national distribution in 1982. By the end of 1986, Huggies had a 34 percent share of the U.S. market.

2005, Mark E. Parry, Strategic Marketing Management: A Means-end Approach, McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 131:

Contour diapers are a step up from prefolds. You don't need to do any folding, they tend to be more absorbent, and they are less bulky.

2014, Manda Aufochs Gillespie, Green Mama: What Parents Need to Know to Give Their Children a Healthy Start and a Greener Future, Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 53:

(Canada, US) A flat diaper which is already hourglass-shaped, rendering folding unnecessary.


nighttime diaper

en-noun

nighttime diaper (plural nighttime diapers)

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

Since most children will sty dry in the day some months before they begin staying dry all night, it seems sensible to wait until they are dry during the day before abandoning their nighttime diapers.

1967 October 10, William G. Crook, “The Length of Diaper Time Varies”, in San Francisco Examiner, page 26:

If the child continues to show both difficult behavior and a return to wet diapers, use a nighttime diaper again. Explain that "big children" often wear night diapers so they can sleep well all through the night.

1989, Robert Schachter, When Your Child is Afraid, Touchstone Books, →ISBN, page 82:

Many three- or four-year-old children are dry during the day, wearing underwear and using the toilet for urination and bowel movements, but still need a nighttime diaper or pull-up to avoid nighttime bedwetting.

2008, Margaret Thomas, Richard Thomas, Lisa Dobberteen, Love and Limits In and Out of Child Care: What Your Child Care Provider and Your Pediatrician Want You to Know, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 84:

A diaper or training pants intended to be worn during sleep to prevent bedwetting, often by young children.


overnight diaper

overnight diaper (plural overnight diapers)

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

So-called because it is intended to be worn overnight.

Gauze diapers come in one size, 20 or 21 inches to 40 inches. Look for woven-in fold lines: also, extra-thick overnight diapers. Cost per dozen: $3 or $4.

1969, Good Housekeeping, volume 168, International Magazine Company, page 128:

After the bath, Sara had dressed Brady in his summer-weight jammies and an overnight diaper. She had been thinking about which book to read him, when Ren poked his head in the doorway.

2000, Debra Salonen, His Daddy's Eyes, Harlequin Enterprises, →ISBN, page 222:

Chinese caregivers had the highest rate of prophylactic topical product usage, the most robust cleaning of the diapered area, lack of cleansing after urine-only diaper changes, and Chinese infants spent the least time in an overnight diaper.

2021, Mark Lebwohl, Ian H. Coulson, Dedee Murrell, Treatment of Skin Disease E-Book: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 210:

nighttime diaper
nighttime diaper#English

(Canada, US) Synonym of nighttime diaper.


night diaper

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

So called because it is intended to be worn at night.

A new "night diaper" is supposed to last all night and does not have to be changed, taking the place of two regular diapers. These diapers are woven with three layers of highly absorbent gauze.

1953 May 14, “Nighttime Diapers”, in Abilene Reporter-News, page 6-A:

He'd been dry two nights in a row. Maybe he wouldn't need a night diaper much longer.

1981, Anne Henry, Robbing the Cradle, Harlequin Books, →ISBN, page 62:

Night diapers can be a little bulky, especially on smaller children but they don't have to be bulky. Some night diapers are really trim based on the fold, quality of the textile, and the absorbency needs of the child.

2021, Bailey Bouwman, Cloth Diapers: The Ultimate Guide to Textiles, Washing & More, Simply Bailey Social Marketing, →ISBN, page 227:


sleep diaper

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

So-called because it is intended to be worn during sleep.

(Canada, US, informal) Synonym of nighttime diaper.


diaper pants

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

(Canada, US) A one-piece diaper which is worn (pulled-up) like underwear; training pants.


diaper fastener

diaper fastener (plural diaper fasteners)

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


free clinic

By 1971, the free clinics began to come under strong criticism from the health Left, both because their inability to give quality day-to-day care and their function within the system as a whole (the direct cooptation of the movement by the NFCC).

1989, Lily M. Hoffman, The Politics of Knowledge: Activist Movements in Medicine and Planning, SUNY Press, →ISBN, page 105:

(US) A health care facility offering services to economically disadvantaged individuals for free or at a nominal cost.


NFCC

w:National Foundation for Credit Counseling

(US) Initialism of National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

(US) Initialism of National Free Clinic Council.


hippie clinic

They may then go to a hippie clinic crash pad to be "talked down."

1969, American Journal of Psychiatry, volume 125, number 4, page 154:

(slang, US) A free clinic in the 1960s and 1970s.


on the hog train

First appears c. 1893 in the publication Railroad Trainmen's Journal.

(US, slang) Leading a life or an existence as a tramp or a vagrant, or traveling as such.


retail apocalypse

retail apocalypse (plural retail apocalypses)

First appeared in print in an early 1990s essay by It's Not My Department! author Peter Glen.

Toys “R” Us is hardly the only retail operation to learn this lesson the hard way. The so-called retail apocalypse felled roughly 7,000 stores and eliminated more than 50,000 jobs in 2017.

2018 June 13, Bryce Covert, “The Demise of Toys 'R' Us Is a Warning”, in The Atlantic, →ISSN:

The threat of a retail apocalypse coming for your business depends on the specific retail category and your current operations.

2023 March 12, Jake Rheude, “Retail Apocalypse: What Is It and Should You Follow the Trend?”, in Loss Prevention Magazine:

(economics, US, urban studies, neologism) The long-term decline of brick-and-mortar retail stores, especially large chains, that sell clothing, electronics, and other consumer goods, otherwise beginning around 2010 and accelerating due to the mandatory closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.


fifty-state strategy

fifty-state strategy (plural fifty-state strategies)

[Howard] Dean assumed the D.N.C. chairmanship in 2005, pledging a "Fifty State Strategy" to contest elections across the country. This put him at odds with Rahm Emanuel, then the leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who wanted to focus on a few targeted swing seats.

2017 February 19, Vinson Cunningham, “Will Keith Ellison Move the Democrats Left?”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-04-04:

(US politics) A political strategy in which a presidential candidate campaigns in all fifty states, rather than only focusing on those which are considered most important.


Great Wealth Transfer

In a paper titled “Planning For The Great Wealth Transfer,” David L. Babson & Co. Inc. points out the transfer may not go as smoothly as expected unless those passing the money down prove to be as adept at unloading money as they were at making and saving it.

[1992 July 5, Dick Marlowe, “Tax Bite Threatens Americans’ Inheritance”, in Orlando Sentinel, page D1:

The Great Wealth Transfer – as it is breathlessly called by financial advisers, estate lawyers, tax collectors, philanthropy directors and assorted “wealth counselors” – will be a steady, soaking rain for decades. A 1999 report by the Social Welfare Research Institute at Boston College estimated that at least $41 trillion, and quite possibly double or triple that amount, will change hands by 2052.

2003 June 8, Stephen Dubner, “Suddenly Popular”, in New York Times Magazine, page 68:

John Havens and Paul Schervish note that over the next 55 years America will experience a “great wealth transfer” where $41 trillion will likely be passed on from one generation to the next—through bequest, philanthropy, and taxes.

2006 November, Noah Drezner, “Recessions and Tax-Cuts: Economic Cycles’ Impact on Individual Giving, Philanthropy, and Higher Education”, in International Journal of Educational Advancement, volume 6, number 4, →DOI:

Whether you are the direct recipient in the Great Wealth Transfer, or not, this shifting of assets has the potential to impact you, your business and those around you.

2023 December 5, Jennifer Wines, “How Might the Great Wealth Transfer Change Society?”, in Kiplinger:

(economics, US) The gradual movement of money from baby boomers (people born in the mid-1940s to mid-1960s) to younger generations, either given as gifts or passed on through inheritance.


shvartser

Borrowed from Yiddish שוואַרצער (shvartser), nominative masculine singular form of שוואַרץ (shvarts, “black”).

I had the whole time to watch out that this shvartser doesn't steal us the groceries from the back seat! [...] Now we can make a very happy lunch from all my new groceries, only thank god that your shvartser didn't take them.

1991, Art Spiegelman, Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began, New York: Pantheon Books, pages 99-100:

(chiefly US, offensive, ethnic slur) Alternative form of shvartze (masculine)


green rush

green rush (usually uncountable, plural green rushes)

green rushes (plural)
Green rush (alternative)
Green Rush (alternative)

From green + rush, alluding to the historical gold rush. First use appears c. 2012.

(US, Canada) A movement describing the burgeoning cannabis industry within the United States as well as Canada.


time agreement

(US, politics, government) A pact or promise made by the party leaders in the United States Senate to limit the amount of time permitted for debating a new law or amending a change to an existing law.


on someone's ass

Help! The cops are on my ass!

Then they saw him, his legs pumping, his face a mask of determination. "Go!" he shouted in a high voice. "They're on my ass!"

1987, Samantha Harte, Vanity Blade, Toronto, Ont., New York, N.Y.: PaperJacks Ltd., →ISBN, page 243:

(Canada, US, colloquial, vulgar) Rapidly chasing or pursuing someone.

My mom's always on my ass about keeping my grades up.

They would see to it that I graduated, not by pulling strings as might have been done at other schools, but by staying on my ass just as a parent would to help me off the field as well as on the field.

2011, Harry Carson, Captain for Life: My Story as a Hall of Fame Linebacker, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 44:

I slept on his couch for a few days, then he started getting on my ass about looking for work. I said, 'For Christ's sake, Frankie, I just graduated. Can I just enjoy the moment?'

2012, Mark Anthony Rolo, My Mother Is Now Earth, St. Paul, M.N.: Borealis Books, →ISBN, page 121:

(Canada, US, colloquial, vulgar) Persistently urging someone on and putting pressure on them.


kirk out

en-verb

kirk out (third-person singular simple present kirks out, present participle kirking out, simple past and past participle kirked out)

kirks out (present singular third-person)
kirking out (participle present)
kirked out (participle past)
kirked out (past)

(US, slang) To become irate; to freak out; to act out in an extreme manner.


EDCA

w:Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

(Philippines, US, politics, military) Acronym of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (a mutual defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States).


reasonable time

en-noun

reasonable time (countable and uncountable, plural reasonable times)

(US, law) The amount of time which is fairly necessary, conveniently, to perform an action that is required to be completed, as soon as circumstances permit.


released time

released time (countable and uncountable, plural released times)

(US, education, religion) The amount of time set aside during school hours, typically an hour a day or a week, for a student to receive an off-campus private religious education.


Buck Rogers time

A reference to the science-fiction character Buck Rogers, who undergoes suspended animation and awakens centuries later.

(US, prison slang) A prison sentence whose parole date is scheduled extremely far in the future.


devil wagon

devil wagons (plural)
devil-wagon (alternative)

(US, derogatory, obsolete) A car, seen as a source of vice or sin.


Starving Time

(US, historical) A period of starvation during the winter of 1609–1610 in Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia.


Colony of Virginia

(US, historical) An English, and later British, colonial settlement in North America between 1606 and 1776.


crush out

en-verb

crush out (third-person singular simple present crushes out, present participle crushing out, simple past and past participle crushed out)

crushes out (present singular third-person)
crushing out (participle present)
crushed out (participle past)
crushed out (past)

(slang, US, dated) To escape from prison or jail, especially by violence.


catch-dog

(US) A hunting dog, especially in boar-hunting, trained to latch onto the quarry.


ballot candy

And ballot candy doesn’t always work. Missouri voters soundly rejected a gas tax hike in 2018 despite it being sold as a way to increase funding for law enforcement.

2023 February 3, Jason Hancock, “‘Ballot candy?’ Missouri GOP adds citizen-only voting into initiative petition changes”, in Missouri Independent, archived from the original on 2023-02-03:

(US, politics, informal) The pairing of a controversial proposal with a more popular one in a ballot measure to increase the measure's chances of being approved by voters.


happen by

happen by (third-person singular simple present happens by, present participle happening by, simple past and past participle happened by)

happens by (present singular third-person)
happening by (participle present)
happened by (participle past)
happened by (past)

(transitive, dated, chiefly US) to come across, to chance upon, to find unexpectedly or accidentally

(intransitive, dated, chiefly US) to show up unexpectedly or accidentally


notch baby

(US, informal) A person born between 1917 and 1921 and as a result, as as retiree, received lower cost of living increases in social security than others after Congress readjusted such benefits in 1977.


pie wagon

(US, slang, dated) Synonym of paddy wagon


bresh

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(US, dialectal) Pronunciation spelling of brush (vegetation).


TLAM

Tomahawk Land Attack Missile
w:Tomahawk (missile)

(US military) Initialism of Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.


mature minor

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

(Canada, US, law) An unemancipated patient who has not attained the age of majority but should be permitted to choose or reject a particular health care treatment, sometimes without the knowledge or agreement of parents.


Int.

Traffic coming from the west will be able to enter Int. 275 at Reading Road (US 42) without too much trouble, and get on the new Int. 71 at an interchange.

1964 November 2, Robert Brumfield, “Super Road Just Dandy Whenever It Is Handy”, in The Cincinnati Enquirer, page 46:

(US, obsolete) Abbreviation of interstate.


ass over tin cups

ass over teakettle
ass over teakettle#English

(Canada, US) Synonym of ass over teakettle


full eagle colonel

en-noun

full eagle colonel (plural full eagle colonels)

[…] full eagle colonel and a flight surgeon. According to the scuttle - butt prior to his arrival, he was an efficient administrative as well as medical officer with many contacts in Washington, one of the few reserve medical officers in[…]

2005 October 26, Paul Borick, Ho! Ho! Weekend Warrior, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 131:

[…]. That means you'll be at least a full eagle colonel.” Reynolds frowned, obviously trying to think of a response. “Maybe now you'll treat me with more respect.” “In your dreams, soldier. What you need, Ethan Stark, is.

2011 September 9, Jack Campbell, Stark's Crusade, Titan Books, →ISBN:

(US, slang, military) Synonym of bird colonel


study up on

en-verb

study up on (third-person singular simple present studies up on, present participle studying up on, simple past and past participle studied up on)

studies up on (present singular third-person)
studying up on (participle present)
studied up on (participle past)
studied up on (past)

Last night I was studying up on organic chemistry for the test.

(transitive, US) To thoroughly study a subject or become current in knowledge on a topic


gray alien

(US) Alternative spelling of grey alien.


bally about

bally about (third-person singular simple present ballies about, present participle ballying about, simple past and past participle ballied about)

ballies about (present singular third-person)
ballying about (participle present)
ballied about (participle past)
ballied about (past)

(US, regional) Alternative form of bandy about


Rough Riders

Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War

(US, military, slang, dated) The 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, military unit in the Spanish-American War.

Battle of San Juan Hill
Theodore Roosevelt


a-double-s

a-double-s's (plural)
a double s (alternative)
A-double-S (alternative)
A double S (alternative)
A. double S. (alternative)

(chiefly US, minced oath) Ass (buttocks, anus, the self etc.).


ride with

ride with (third-person singular simple present rides with, present participle riding with, simple past rode with, past participle ridden with)

rides with (present singular third-person)
riding with (participle present)
rode with (past)
ridden with (participle past)

He's been riding with Cooper and them for years.

(US, slang) To act as a loyal member of a gang or crew.


truant school

(US, historical) A school for children who played truant.


dust out

dust out (third-person singular simple present dusts out, present participle dusting out, simple past and past participle dusted out)

dusts out (present singular third-person)
dusting out (participle present)
dusted out (participle past)
dusted out (past)

(dated, 1920s, US, slang) To leave or depart.


lam off

lam off (third-person singular simple present lams off, present participle lamming off, simple past and past participle lammed off)

lams off (present singular third-person)
lamming off (participle present)
lammed off (participle past)
lammed off (past)

(intransitive, slang, US, dated, 1920s) To flee or run away.


scoop in

scoop in (third-person singular simple present scoops in, present participle scooping in, simple past and past participle scooped in)

scoops in (present singular third-person)
scooping in (participle present)
scooped in (participle past)
scooped in (past)

We'll scoop him in to the plan for sure.

(transitive, archaic, US, slang) To entice, trick or manipulate (someone) into joining up with a group or activity.


flap off

flap off (third-person singular simple present flaps off, present participle flapping off, simple past and past participle flapped off)

flaps off (present singular third-person)
flapping off (participle present)
flapped off (participle past)
flapped off (past)

Don't keep flapping off about someone you don't know.

(intransitive, slang, informal, US, almost always with about) To talk excessively, ignorantly and/or wrongly.


slick up

slick up (third-person singular simple present slicks up, present participle slicking up, simple past and past participle slicked up)

slicks up (present singular third-person)
slicking up (participle present)
slicked up (participle past)
slicked up (past)

(transitive, archaic, US) To clean up or organize (something).


snake out

snake out (third-person singular simple present snakes out, present participle snaking out, simple past and past participle snaked out)

snakes out (present singular third-person)
snaking out (participle present)
snaked out (participle past)
snaked out (past)

Then snake out the item from its container.

(slang, archaic, US, transitive) To remove by dragging out, as removing a snake from its hole.

Snake out the horse's legs.

(slang, archaic, US, transitive) To crack a whip so as to wrap around a target.


tie to

tie to (third-person singular simple present ties to, present participle tying to, simple past and past participle tied to)

ties to (present singular third-person)
tying to (participle present)
tied to (participle past)
tied to (past)

He's dependable enough that you can always tie to him.

(archaic, US, transitive) To rely on (someone).


sling up

sling up (third-person singular simple present slings up, present participle slinging up, simple past and past participle slung up)

slings up (present singular third-person)
slinging up (participle present)
slung up (participle past)
slung up (past)

(transitive, US) To have sex with (someone).


see-through fence

en-noun

see-through fence (countable and uncountable, plural see-through fences)

(US, Philippines, by extension) chainlink fence


shine on

en-verb

shine on (third-person singular simple present shines on, present participle shining on, simple past and past participle shined on or shone on)

shines on (present singular third-person)
shining on (participle present)
shined on (participle past)
shined on (past)
shone on (participle past)
shone on (past)

(transitive, informal, US, originally African-American Vernacular) To humor (someone) or be condescending to (someone); to pretend to take (someone) seriously; to tell a tall tale; to pull someone's leg.

(transitive, informal, US) To deliberately insult or aggravate (someone).


be on at

be on at (third-person singular simple present is on at, present participle being on at, simple past was on at, past participle been on at)

is on at (present singular third-person)
being on at (participle present)
was on at (past)
been on at (participle past)

They've been on at us about cleaning the backroom for months.

(US, informal) To complain to (someone).


sex in

sex in (third-person singular simple present sexes in, present participle sexing in, simple past and past participle sexed in)

sexes in (present singular third-person)
sexing in (participle present)
sexed in (participle past)
sexed in (past)

(US, slang, of a woman entering a gang) To have sex with one or more members of a gang as an initiation.


blood in

blood in (third-person singular simple present bloods in, present participle blooding in, simple past and past participle blooded in)

bloods in (present singular third-person)
blooding in (participle present)
blooded in (participle past)
blooded in (past)

(slang, US) To join a criminal gang by committing an act of violence (often murder) as an initiation.


blood out

blood out (third-person singular simple present bloods out, present participle blooding out, simple past and past participle blooded out)

bloods out (present singular third-person)
blooding out (participle present)
blooded out (participle past)
blooded out (past)

(slang, US) To leave a criminal gang by committing a murder for the organization in order to be given permission to leave, because the departing gangbanger can not snitch without also being charged with the murder.


rainbow era

From the varied, colorful appearance of multiple liveries in one consist.

Amtrak's Rainbow Era was the first few years where consists were multi-colored because many legacy carriers' former rolling stock was mixed together and not yet painted for Amtrak.

2012 February 15, Tadman, “Ocean View in Rainbow Era”, in Railroad.net:

We have come a long way since that “rainbow era” of using hand-me-down equipment.

2021, “A Brief History of Amtrak Paint Schemes and Liveries”, in Amtrak:

That was the rainbow era when much of Amtrak was still running in the original roads’ paint until 1974.

2022 May 30, markm, “Amtrak in a movie”, in AZL Forum:

(rail transport, informal, US) A period in the early 1970s when Amtrak operated a fleet of used equipment that still carried the paint schemes of their previous owners.


Paul Blart

From the titular character of the Paul Blart: Mall Cop series of movies.

So within a couple minutes of my walking up to the inner fence (there's a short outer one to keep cars out which doesn't continue to the dirt) Paul Blart himself showed up to tell me to back off!

2009 May 22, TheDamnMushroom, “dead mall 1”, in Flickr.com:

And even then, Paul Blart would likely be occupied with stopping the kids who were skateboarding through THE MALL CONCOURSE!

2018 July 21, “Regal Cinemas at St Louis Mills. The only real draw for the mall now a days.”, in Reddit:

I saw one fat Paul Blart and one police officer

2023 December 12, Crankbait, Carolina Firearms Forum:

(retail, informal, US) A mall security guard, especially one considered self-serious or hostile.


tone with

tone with (third-person singular simple present tones with, present participle toning with, simple past and past participle toned with)

tones with (present singular third-person)
toning with (participle present)
toned with (participle past)
toned with (past)

That color paint really tones with the look of your house.

(US, of a paint or decor) To match, blend or look good with (something).


beat about

beat about (third-person singular simple present beats about, present participle beating about, simple past beat about, past participle beaten about or beat about)

beats about (present singular third-person)
beating about (participle present)
beat about (past)
beaten about (participle past)
beat about (participle past)

He's been beating about for that supposed treasure.

(intransitive, US) To search for something; to look around for something; to hunt for something.


fetch about

fetch about (third-person singular simple present fetches about, present participle fetching about, simple past and past participle fetched about)

fetches about (present singular third-person)
fetching about (participle present)
fetched about (participle past)
fetched about (past)

(nautical, US, of a ship) To come onto a new tack.


gain over

gain over (third-person singular simple present gains over, present participle gaining over, simple past and past participle gained over)

gains over (present singular third-person)
gaining over (participle present)
gained over (participle past)
gained over (past)

(transitive, US) To win over (someone); to convince (someone) into joining one's own side in a conflict.


close round

close round (third-person singular simple present closes round, present participle closing round, simple past and past participle closed round)

closes round (present singular third-person)
closing round (participle present)
closed round (participle past)
closed round (past)

(US, intransitive, transitive, of a group of people) To surround (someone, something); to form a circle.


meatrock

From meat + rock; from the food's resemblance to a piece of rock in some forms.

It was originally served in the form of handmade meatball-like chunks that resemble medium sized rocks (hence the prison name “meatrock”)

2018 November 29, Uhuru B. Rowe, Conscious Prisoner:

The meat is usually what we call “meatrock” – actually low-grade ground chicken that says “for institutional use only” on the side of the box.

2021 January 15, Daniel A. Rosen, ““Let Them Eat Dog Food”: Nutrition and Health Behind Bars”, in Three Hots One Cot:

Overall, all of them, if they can get out, they want to live a quiet, peaceful life, where they have a home and can be around people they love and who love them, and to be able to do simple things like go to the grocery store, or go to the park, go on a hike, and be able to eat a meal that is not meatrock or something that looks like dog food.

2022 December 28, Cindy, “Senator Boysko Visits Virginia Prisons: “They give them $2.20 per inmate per day. My cat food is $1.25 a can, and that’s for one meal.””, in Blue Virginia:

(slang, US, prison) A piece of highly processed mechanically separated chicken that is used as an ingredient for meals served in the US prison system.


dicks before chicks

misters before sisters
misters before sisters#English

(US, slang, vulgar, uncommon) Synonym of misters before sisters


Carolina Alley

(US, meteorology) An area of active tornadoes that starts in the northern section of Georgia through the top of South Carolina extending toward the coast into the northeastern section of North Carolina.


Hoosier Alley

(US, meteorology) A region of active tornadoes around the area of Indiana, also including sections of Illinois and Kentucky.


turning joint

From turning + joint. First use appears c. 1895.

The victim is usually taken first to some saloon in the vicinity of the "turning joint," where he is given over to another crook, the "turner," who lies in wait for him.

1895, Thomas Byrnes, Professional Criminals of America, page 33:

He's got a come-on from New Jersey that I'm to steer to the turning joint.

1897, Edward W. Townsend, Near A Whole City Full, page 164:

... and brought to a place where the scheme is to be operated and which is known as the "turning joint".

1928, Frank Dalton O'Sullivan, Crime Detection, page 170:

... those who returned and made their way to the turning joint, in order to right matters themselves, were quickly taken care of by "tailers"

1957, Morris Robert Werner, It Happened in New York, page 74:

There they were met by a "bunco steerer" like Appo who, after an exchange of passwords, "steered" the individual to a "turning joint" in another hotel or office.

2011, Timothy J. Gilfoyle, A Pickpocket's Tale: The Underworld of Nineteenth-Century New York, page 209:

At the turning joint, the over-the-counter salesman, or "turner," did all the talking, showed the victim the $5,000 to $10,000 in good money described as counterfeit, and sold it to him on a discounted basis (as an example, $500 bought $5,000).

2022, John Oller, Rogues' Gallery - The Birth of Modern Policing and Organized Crime in Gilded Age New York, page 189:

(US, dated, obsolete) A place where legitimately earned money was swindled in exchange for counterfeit currency.


flake down

flake down (third-person singular simple present flakes down, present participle flaking down, simple past and past participle flaked down)

flakes down (present singular third-person)
flaking down (participle present)
flaked down (participle past)
flaked down (past)

(intransitive, US, slang) To go to bed; to go to sleep.


the math ain't mathing

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-the math ain't mathing.wav

(slang, humorous, Canada, US) Something is incorrect or unreasonable; something doesn't add up or makes no sense.


Junuary

Said A., “Such weather, sir, as this / Proves that they’ve named the month amiss.” / “Just so,” said B.—the wretch, how dare he?— / “It should be known as June'''-uary!”

1888 January 19, “Fair-Weather Waggery”, in The Cambria Daily Leader: The Pioneer of the Welsh Daily Press, number 5,111, Swansea, West Glamorgan, page [4], column 3:

A veteran gardener of this city, complaining of the warm weather, thinks next month will be called June-uary.

1894 December 11, “Our Picayunes”, in The Daily Picayune, volume LVIII, number 320, New Orleans, La.: Nicholson & Co., page 4, column 1:

In 1995, the Almanac nailed a surprise January heat wave – christened "Juneuary" – in the Northeast.

2008 August 28, “Getting a chill from the Almanac”, in Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME, page A8:

(Canada, US, humorous) An unseasonably warm and sunny January.


attitude-adjuster

(US, slang, law enforcement) A nightstick or any type of club.


meatbrain

'Plague take the fists of lust-ridden sailors,' snapped the herbalist in riled temper. Planks scraped as she jammed her door open wider to admit the next client on her threshold. 'If you've brought me the meatbrains who savaged that girl, let me tell you, I'm likely to geld him.'

1999, Janny Wurts, Grand Conspiracy (Wars of Light and Shadow; 5), London: Voyager, →ISBN, page 283:

They snorted and shook their heads like I was a meatbrain.

2009, Tristan Bancks, Mac Slater: Imaginator, Sydney, N.S.W.: Random House Australia, published 2016, →ISBN, page 26:

(US, colloquial) An unintelligent person.


swass

en-noun

swass (countable and uncountable, plural swasses)

Wipe off the machines after you use them. No one wants to breathe in your swass!

I, Christopher Eskin, leave to SB Mtn. Dew. Mike 'n' Ikes, and peace with KE; CH a keeper and less injuries; AD less swass, "at least" and NY; DI an empty playground; RH "at least," pie, + NY; KB and KE my love and friendship; KM my attitude; KL a phonecall; GJ some bass; MB a strike; JS a golf lesson; and AS a tray.

1997, “Last Will and Testament of the Class of 1997”, in The Shipbuilder, Norwell, M.A.: Norwell High School, page 92, column 2:

Dragging our swasses out of the Hillview — which, in the end, proved safe and clean and secure — we hailed a taxi and headed through the African night, my mind good and twisted after thirteen hours of travel.

2007, Dave Bidini, Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs, Toronto, Ont.: Emblem, published 2008, →ISBN, page 228:

Dash Riprock writes in with a question about his anus: "Embarassing^([sic]) but sometimes my anus gets chapped and it hurts like fuk^([sic])... i think it's just from sweating alot^([sic]) cause i'm a good wiper... Why the feck does that happen to me, not down with this painful swass."

2016 July 6, Colonel Edmund J. Burke, “SOLUTION FOR A SWEATY ANUS”, in uk.rec.driving (Usenet):

While discussing her husband Cash Warren and his apparel company Pair of Thieves, Alba revealed the Pair of Thieves underwear line comes with a no "swass" guarantee.

2016 August 27, Christopher Rosen, “Jessica Alba explains 'swass' to Jimmy Fallon”, in Entertainment Weekly, New York, N.Y.: Dotdash Meredith, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-06-18:

Because it's a political statement, today, to say: I am happy. I am one hundred per cent committed to my own happiness. Above all else. It's the new free love, but with less swass. Right, great. Me too!

2018, Shilo Jones, On the Up, [Toronto, Ont.]: McClelland & Stewart, →ISBN, page 132:

If you're at the point in your "swass" journey where you've gotten an uncomfortable itch from excessive moisture, this deodorizing Remedy Soap can help.

2023 July 19, “10 Products To Make Butt Sweat Bearable This Summer”, in HuffPost, archived from the original on 2024-06-15:

(Canada, US, slang) A sweaty ass (buttocks).


three-letter agency

three-letter agency (plural three-letter agencies)

From initialisms of major intelligence agencies in the United States, such as the CIA, FBI and NSA.

(US, humorous) Any intelligence agency of the United States federal government.

(US, humorous, by extension) Any intelligence agency, regardless of nationality or allegiance.


flex off

en-verb

flex off (third-person singular simple present flexes off, present participle flexing off, simple past and past participle flexed off)

flexes off (present singular third-person)
flexing off (participle present)
flexed off (participle past)
flexed off (past)

(US) To take time off from work using a flexible time-off policy, generally allowing time off at will instead of using accrued sick and/or vacation time.


amalgamist

From amalgam + -ist. Compare German Amalgamist.

(US, historical) Someone who supports miscegenation (interracial relationships or marriage) between white and African-American people.


monkey strap

monkey straps (plural)
monkey-strap (alternative)

Also, he must always use the approved safety harness, or "monkey strap" as it is commonly called.

1970, U.S. Army Aviation Center, U.S. Army Aviation School (contributors), United States Army Aviation Digest - Volume 16, page 11:

The monkey strap term came from the "tail" we had whenever we unhooked to exit the helicopter.

2007, Frank Lampi, Ghost Riders A War Story, page 102:

Although his monkey strap kept him from flying completely out of the chopper, he went out to the end of his strap and then flew back and hit the side of the chopper.

2014, H. D. Graham, Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Stories, page 254:

Kolt leaned forward slightly, testing the tension on his monkey strap, and spotted the second Mark V still positioned next to the ship.

2015, Dalton Fury, One Killer Force - A Delta Force Novel:

(US, military, slang) A type of safety strap.


leg out

leg out (third-person singular simple present legs out, present participle legging out, simple past and past participle legged out)

legs out (present singular third-person)
legging out (participle present)
legged out (participle past)
legged out (past)

(finance, US) To dispose of a debt to avoid integrated treatment under US tax law.


bone out

bone out (third-person singular simple present bones out, present participle boning out, simple past and past participle boned out)

bones out (present singular third-person)
boning out (participle present)
boned out (participle past)
boned out (past)

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

(US, slang, intransitive) To leave; to run away.


secondary sanction

en-noun

secondary sanction (plural secondary sanctions)

(US) Extraterritorial sanctions imposed on third-country entities that trade with already sanctioned entities.


fire marshall

(US, Philippines) Alternative spelling of fire marshal


fart off

en-verb

fart off (third-person singular simple present farts off, present participle farting off, simple past and past participle farted off)

farts off (present singular third-person)
farting off (participle present)
farted off (participle past)
farted off (past)

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

(intransitive, slang, US) To waste time; to behave pointlessly or disrespectfully.


geeze up

geeze up (third-person singular simple present geezes up, present participle geezing up, simple past and past participle geezed up)

geezes up (present singular third-person)
geezing up (participle present)
geezed up (participle past)
geezed up (past)

(intransitive, slang, US) To do a dose of drugs; to get high, especially by injecting heroin.


First Lady of the Land

(US, politics, obsolete) Former name of FLOTUS.


get into it

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

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

We're finally going to get into it about the policy.

(slang, US) To fight or argue about something, especially a long-simmering issue.


CLC

en-noun

CLC (countable and uncountable, plural CLCs)

(countable, US) Initialism of central labor council.

(countable, US) Initialism of combat logistics company.

(countable, US) Initialism of command light cruiser.

(countable, US) Initialism of community living center.


KJ

KJ (countable and uncountable, plural KJs)

Probably an initialism of crystal (“phencyclidine”) + joint (“marijuana cigarette”).

This was some other shit, what they smoked, could have been fucking angel dust sprinkled on, they called that KJ. Shit, knowing them that’s exactly why I couldn’t stop my head from bobbing, and why the streetlights were so fucking bright, and mean seeming, and, like, too red. I was glad I only hit it once.

2018, Tommy Orange, “Calvin Jonhson”, in There There, New York, N.Y.: Vintage Books, →ISBN, page 92:

(slang, US) Phencyclidine (PCP); also, a marijuana cigarette laced with phencyclidine.


bless out

en-verb

bless out (third-person singular simple present blesses out, present participle blessing out, simple past and past participle blessed out)

blesses out (present singular third-person)
blessing out (participle present)
blessed out (participle past)
blessed out (past)

(slang, US) To vehemently insult or verbally attack (someone); to curse out (someone).


bone down

bone down (third-person singular simple present bones down, present participle boning down, simple past and past participle boned down)

bones down (present singular third-person)
boning down (participle present)
boned down (participle past)
boned down (past)

I boned her down already.

We've been boning down for years.

(slang, US, intransitive or transitive, of a man) To have sex with (someone).


bung out

bung out (third-person singular simple present bungs out, present participle bunging out, simple past and past participle bunged out)

bungs out (present singular third-person)
bunging out (participle present)
bunged out (participle past)
bunged out (past)

(US, slang, intransitive, usually of eyes) To protrude or bulge.


cheek it through

cheek it through (third-person singular simple present cheeks it through, present participle cheeking it through, simple past and past participle cheeked it through)

cheeks it through (present singular third-person)
cheeking it through (participle present)
cheeked it through (participle past)
cheeked it through (past)

He's cheeking it through that class, and the surprising thing is, it's working!

(slang, US, dated, intransitive) To endure with an air of unearned confidence.


cheek it out

cheek it out (third-person singular simple present cheeks it out, present participle cheeking it out, simple past and past participle cheeked it out)

cheeks it out (present singular third-person)
cheeking it out (participle present)
cheeked it out (participle past)
cheeked it out (past)

(slang, US, dated, intransitive) To brazen out or get through (a situation).


Crip out

Crip out (third-person singular simple present Crips out, present participle Cripping out, simple past and past participle Cripped out)

Crips out (present singular third-person)
Cripping out (participle present)
Cripped out (participle past)
Cripped out (past)

(transitive, slang, US) To don blue to signal membership in the Crips gang; to decorate or otherwise indicate (someone or something) is part of the Crips.


cut round

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

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

She's cutting round in front of all of them.

(slang, intransitive, dated, US) To show off; to be performative.


Pledge of Allegiance

United States of America
United States of America

(US, government) A patriotic recited verse that promises allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America.


zip coon

zip coons (plural)
zip-coon (alternative)
Zip Coon (alternative)

From an 1834 minstrel song titled "Ole Zip Coon" about a fictional Black man named Zip Coon. The song stereotypically portrays Zip Coon as unintelligent and incapable of assimilating into white American society.

Arter a while we got done—but it looked like I had bad luck for in sittin' down agin I lik'd to have sot on Barbry's tom cat, which if I had, I shoulder bin like Kurnel Zip Coon's wife who jump'd into a holler log to mash two young panters to deth, and they scratched her so bad she couldn t set down for two munse.

1858, Big Bear's Adventures and Travels, page 98:

"De gal w'at git ole Brer Jack 'ull git a natchul pacer, sho'. He move mo' one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w'ich he rack up de branch all night long wid he nose p'int lak he gwine 'cross."

I'm ther old eriginal zip-coon, And that uther coon er sottin' on er rail; And I'm that same old coon What allers war er coon, And that never got er lickin' till yet.

1886, Hiram H. McLane, The Capture of the Alamo: A Historical Tragedy, in Four Acts, with Prologue, page 85:

(US, obsolete, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) A Black man.


Delmar Divide

(US, urban studies) A socioeconomic and racial dividing line in St. Louis, Missouri.


Down Easter

Down Easters (plural)
Downeaster (alternative)

(US, nautical) A type of clipper with a deeper, fuller shape.


say boo

say boo (third-person singular simple present says boo, present participle saying boo, simple past and past participle said boo)

says boo (present singular third-person)
saying boo (participle present)
said boo (participle past)
said boo (past)

She took the last piece of cake, and nobody said boo.

Nobody says boo about it, nobody has had any problems with it until the Hydrostorage case came along.

1993 March 24, Mr. [Harris W. ]Fawell, quotee, Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1036 […] , →OCLC, page 41:

"[…]What did you say to her to make her run off?" An incredulous expression formed on Tad's face. "I didn't say boo to the kid.[…]"

2004, Beverly Barton, Worth Dying For, →ISBN:

That kind of bad mind was not Christian but I wasn't saying boo. I am not that brave or that stupid.

2018, Ingrid Persaud, “The Sweet Sop”, in The BBC National Short Story Award, →ISBN:

(always in the negative) To say anything, especially in protest or to complain.


MESA

w:Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration

(US) Acronym of Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration.


USBM

United States Bureau of Mines
w:United States Bureau of Mines

(US) Initialism of United States Bureau of Mines.


English basement

en-noun

English basement (plural English basements)

(Canada, US) An apartment on the lowest floor of a building.


I hardly know her

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I hardly know her.wav

From the fact that a word ending in /əɹ/ (usually, -er or -or) sounds like a verb followed by “her” as the direct object.

I hardly even know her (alternative)
I hardly know 'er (alternative)

Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser.
Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her!

Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson): How many people a year do you think get their arms cut off in a baler?
Michael Scott (Steve Carrell): Baler? I hardly know her.

Bangor? I hardly know her! *the audience erupts in laughter as I do a silly little dance*

2020 October 17, @maine_gov, Twitter, archived from the original on 2024-07-18:

[O]ppenheimer? i hardly know her!

2023 June 22, @abigail_j_lee, Twitter, archived from the original on 2024-07-16:

(US, humorous, idiomatic) A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.


RISD

His trend-forecasting ability materialized when he was getting his B.F.A. in painting at RISD.

2022 February 16, Allison P. Davis, “A Vibe Shift Is Coming – Will any of us survive it?”, in New York, →ISSN:

Rhode Island School of Design
w:Rhode Island School of Design

(US) Initialism of Rhode Island School of Design.


hurt for

en-verb

hurt for (third-person singular simple present hurts for, present participle hurting for, simple past and past participle hurt for)

hurts for (present singular third-person)
hurting for (participle present)
hurt for (participle past)
hurt for (past)

I'm hurting for a ride home.

I hurt for the victims.

She was so different then. She had a horror story to tell me about her and Henry. They had twins that were still born. I had hurt for her but she had grown even more cold-hearted than me.

2017, Patricia Tidmore, I Serve You Notice, Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, →ISBN:

(US) To sympathize or empathize with (someone).


census tract

(US) A subdivision of a county or township, used by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes.


Jew up

Jew up (third-person singular simple present Jews up, present participle Jewing up, simple past and past participle Jewed up)

Jews up (present singular third-person)
Jewing up (participle present)
Jewed up (participle past)
Jewed up (past)

(US, offensive) Alternative letter-case form of jew up


that's mighty white of you

(US, dated, offensive) Used to express gratitude or appreciation for someone's fairness, kindness or generosity.


vexel

Coined in the early 1900s by a trustee of Cornell University, from Latin vexō (“shake”) and German wechseln (“change”).

[…] highly sensitized individuals of neurotic tendencies who manifest in their state of unrest a morbid desire to change everything. […] Let us [...] classify such people by combining a Latin and German root and calling the individuals "vexels" (Latin vexare, to shake : German wexeln, to change). Vexels appear in practically every large group of people who are organized for any purpose whatsoever, and they must be reckoned with as a definite psychologic factor[…]

1915, Robert T. Morris, Educational Review ..., page 460:

[…] in which what a Trustee of Cornell once called "vexels" or mischief-makers can break the continuity of an institution and set back for years its best interests. The very fact that "vexels" know that some excellent men in responsible positions sometimes advise that at any cost[…]

1917, Nicholas Murray Butler, Frank Pierrepont Graves, William McAndrew, Educational Review, page 419:

(obsolete, rare, US) A troublemaker, a person who wants to change things.


whitetopia

en-noun

whitetopia (usually uncountable, plural whitetopias)

Blend of white + utopia. First use appears c. 1964. See cite below.

perhaps the name of their towns should be Whytopia (more of an elegant suburban ring to it than Whitetopia) and Blaquetopia.

1964, Saturday Review Associates, Saturday Review - Volume 47, Part 2, page 71:

Like contemporary Whitetopias, Black philosophers are marked as unwanted and assigned to the back of the proverbial philosophical bus.

2017, Carl Mika, Michael A. Peters (editors), The Dilemma of Western Philosophy:

A whitetopia is whiter than the nation, its respective region, and its state.

2019, Laurie Essig, Love, Inc. - Dating Apps, the Big White Wedding, and Chasing the Happily Neverafter, page 166:

I'll bet this faggot lives in Whitetopia. He doesn't have to live around DIEversity, though he should be required to.

2020 January 18, GLOBUS, “Majority of Blacks Believe Fat Tubby Is Racist and Other Wonderful Poll Numbers”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

Their flight had ended 60 miles east in a place realtors had promised them would be a tree-lined Whitetopia. And for thirty years it was.

2021, Charles Haddad, Chasing the Albino Pygmy Giraffe, page 20:

(US, slang, derogatory, urban studies) A white or white-majority suburb or community.


tweakified

(US, slang) Suffering from the psychological effects of smoking crack cocaine.


Kosher Nostra

The rise of the kosher nostra began at the turn of the century when the brutish Monk Eastman (Jacob Osterman) ended the reign of the Irish gangs in the Five Point area of the old East Side.

1970 June 22, Gus Tyler, “Book of the Week: The Kosher Nostra”, in New York Magazine, volume 3, number 25, New York, N.Y.: George A. Hirsch, →ISSN, page 50:

Kosher Nostra boss, Meyer Lansky, now domiciled in Israel, will not be extradited to the U.S.

1972 March 15, Washington Observer Newsletter, number 135, →OCLC:

[M]en like Jimmy Fratianno of the Cosa Nostra and Benjamin Siegel of the Kosher Nostra—were certainly not insignificant either.

1992, Mike Rothmiller, Ivan G. Goldman, L.A. Secret Police: Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Network, New York, NY: Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 145:

(US, chiefly historical) A nickname for Jewish-American organized crime.

"and that's when people began speaking of us as the Jewish Mafia, the Kosher Nostra and things like that[…]"

1981 winter, Herbert Kupferberg, quoting Itzhak Perlman, Present Tense, volume 8, number 2, New York, NY: American Jewish Committee, →OCLC, page 37:

‘[…]brigade’ of rich, mostly Jewish entrepreneurs such as Charles Saatchi and Gerald Ratner who are jocularly referred to as the Kosher Nostra.

1992, Mihir Bose, Michael Grade: Screening the Image, London: Virgin Books, →ISBN, page 254:

(humorous, figurative, sometimes derogatory) A nickname for various groups of Jewish people.


blanket ass

blanket asses (plural)
blanket-ass (alternative)

(offensive, ethnic slur, US, dated) An American Indian.


BINGO

(US, aviation slang, chiefly military, primarily of fuel) Alternative letter-case form of bingo (“just sufficient to return to base”)


headlight fluid

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

Perhaps first attested in 1986 (see quotations), from headlight (“a bright light, with a lens and reflector, on the front of a motor vehicle to illuminate the road when driving at night”) + fluid (“a liquid”). By analogy with blinker fluid (“fictional automotive product”), itself referencing real automative items and products such as brake fluid (“a special fluid for operating hydraulic brakes and clutches”) and diesel exhaust fluid (“a liquid used to reduce controlled emissions from the exhaust of diesel engines”). Later further popularised as an Internet meme after 2003 by an episode of the web series Red vs. Blue.

compound

My perception was different. Like when the Malibu broke down that first time and I got out and stuck my head under the hood and pretended to understand what I was looking at. Lots of people find themselves in similar situations … but they still hang in there, they still try to do their job, they still try to be helpful. And so they say, "It's your torque converter," or, "It's your internal rotator," or, "It's your headlight fluid." And 999,999 times out of a million they're ignored.

1986, T. M. Wright, The Waiting Room, Tor Books, →ISBN, pages 271–272:

In an attempt to redistribute the weight in my 1984, I have decided to move the battery to the trunk. I have a GNB sealed battery and access to a lot of cable, but need some help on the specifics.
1. Is this a good idea in the first place?
[…]
5. Should I change my headlight fluid while [I've] got the headliner off?

1994 May 16, Ray Zrinsky, “Are those batteries in your trunks or are you just happy to see me?”, in rec.autos.vw (Usenet):

Nope, it means that the last time you had it serviced, they put blinker fluid in your headlight fluid reservoir. (I couldn't resist.)

1996 April 16, Robert A. King, “Headlight blinking?!?”, in rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang (Usenet):

DJ Spike: Hi, Michelle, Alan here from Midas Auto Care. […] We've found a few more problems here […] preventative maintenance, gonna run it by you, see what you think.
Michelle De Palma: Okay.
[…]
DJ Spike: First of all, the headlights. The-
Michelle De Palma: Uh-huh, the headlights?
DJ Spike: Yeah, the headlight fluid's a little low. Er, we're gonna need to top that off.

2001 May 25, Spike, “Clueless Auto Repair” (0:11–0:33 from the start), in Mojo in the Morning, Channel 955:

Captain Dick Simmons: We've got a very important mission for you. You think you can handle it?
Rookie Franklin Delano Donut: Absolutely!
Simmons: We need you to go to the store, and get two quarts of elbow grease.
Captain Dexter Grif: Yeah and, uh, pick up some... headlight fluid for the Puma too.

2003 April 18, “The Rookies” (1:50–2:03 from the start), in Burnie Burns, director, Red vs. Blue, Rooster Teeth:

You: Hey, Favorite Uncle […] Is there anything you want me to do to help, huh?
Uncle Fred: Uh, yeah. Why don't you, er, go over to my toolbox and, uh, get me a can of headlight fluid. I think we're a little low here.

2005, Roger Welsch, edited by Darwin Holmstrom, From Tinkering to Torquing: A Beginner's Guide to Tractors and Tools, MBI Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 213:

There was a neighbor kid who always hung around wanting to help us as we worked on our cars. To get rid of him, we would tell him to go the store and buy us some headlight fluid or a left-handed monkey wrench, and off he'd go.

2008, Roger Butler, Confessions of a Baby Boomer, Tate Publishing & Enterprises, →ISBN, page 64:

I check my headlight fluid about once a month. My truck doesn't really use that much surprisingly... Especially considering I have HIDs

2013 March 11, 09DBLCAB09, “Muffler Bearing Question”, in Tacoma World:

Friendly reminder to check your headlight fluid as the weather gets colder. Don't want it freezing up on you 👍🏻❄❄

2016 December 16, @AustinRC246, Twitter:

Titles are likely to mislead the uninitiated. A career counselor would be stunned to hear Job Simulator coaching a neophyte auto mechanic to top up a car's "headlight fluid" in a cartoonish world run by robots; similarly, The Lab is about a lot of things, but the scientific method is not among them.

2019, Kenneth J. Varnum, editor, Beyond Reality: Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality in the Library, American Library Association, →ISBN, page 64:

Have you been replacing your headlight fluid regularly? At what intervals?

2024 July 3, u/lolpan, “2023 Sport touring hatchback passenger headlight went out”, in r/civic, Reddit:

(originally Canada, US, automotive slang, now also Internet slang, humorous) A fictional ostensible automotive product, used in jokes, to prank someone into searching for the nonexistent item (a snipe hunt), or to gauge how inept someone is in basic auto mechanics.


line drawing

From line + drawing. First use appears c. 1891. The figurative sense is a deverbal form of the expression draw the line. The exact date of its first appearance is uncertain.

(US, law, figurative) A specific boundary or limit in regard to prescribing the best legal rule.


no outlet

(road transport, US) Wording placed on a sign at the entrance to a road, or network of roads, indicating that there is no other way by which to leave the road or network.


INC.

Inc. (alternative)
inc (alternative)
inc. (alternative)

(chiefly Canada, US, only after nouns) Incorporated, corporation.


vintage shop

(US) A shop which sells mainly vintage goods, especially clothes, at discounted prices.


FHWA

Federal Highway Administration
w:Federal Highway Administration

(US, road transport) Abbreviation of Federal Highway Administration.


bum factory

From bum (“tramp, vagrant”) + factory, the idea being that the existence of such establishments supposedly encourages people to become vagrants.

(US, informal, dated) An establishment that sells alcoholic drinks, such as a saloon or liquor store.

(US, informal, dated) A cheap place for lodging, such as a hostel or a charitable mission house; flophouse.


unincorporated community

en-noun

unincorporated community (plural unincorporated communities)

(US) A geographic area having a common social identity without municipal organization or official political designation.


drive stick

en-verb

drive stick (third-person singular simple present drives stick, present participle driving stick, simple past drove stick, past participle driven stick)

drives stick (present singular third-person)
driving stick (participle present)
drove stick (past)
driven stick (participle past)

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

I learned to drive stick at a young age.

He can't borrow my car because he can't drive stick.

(chiefly Canada, US, automotive, colloquial) To drive a stickshift vehicle.


De-

De- + Shawna → DeShawna

De- + Angelo → DeAngelo

De- + Andre → DeAndre

(US, African-American Vernacular, anthroponymy) Unisex prefix used in African-American given names.


Doctor Feelgood

(US, slang) An unscrupulous physician who prescribes controlled mood-altering drugs in absence of clinically valid indications for their use.


higher-speed rail

(rail transport, chiefly US) A type of railway system based on existing infrastructure upgraded to allow passenger train speeds typically between 80 and 120 miles per hour.


center of excellence

en-noun

center of excellence (plural centers of excellence)

centers of excellence (plural)
centre of excellence (alternative)

(US) A team, a shared facility or an entity that provides leadership, best practices, research, support, or training for a focus area.


back door slider

back door slider (plural back door sliders)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-back door slider.wav

(US, baseball) A baseball pitch that begins by entering outside the plate, but then breaks back in towards the plate at the last minute.


bird point

bird points (plural)
birdpoint (alternative)
bird-point (alternative)

She had watched the turned ground passing and had snatched up three partial arrowheads and a flint scraper and one fine complete bird point.

1997, Charles Frazier, “Ashes of Roses”, in Cold Mountain, New York: Atlantic:

Flint chips and flakes were scattered about. Here and there, every so often, one would find a point or blade. Occasionally, a tiny arrow-point (birdpoint) would surface.

1999, Bob Rampani, “Yesterday In Bridgeton, Site #6”, in Central States Archaeological Journal, volume 46, number 1, pages 9-10:

(US, archaeology) A small flint arrowhead


tradish

en-adj

tradish (comparative more tradish, superlative most tradish)

more tradish (comparative)
most tradish (superlative)

(US, among Native Americans) Traditional; relating to Native American traditions.


Second Amendment sanctuary

en-noun

Second Amendment sanctuary (plural Second Amendment sanctuaries)

(US) A locality in the United States that has adopted laws or resolutions to prohibit or impede the enforcement of certain gun control measures which are perceived to violate the Second Amendment.


gun sanctuary

Second Amendment sanctuary
Second Amendment sanctuary#English

(US) Synonym of Second Amendment sanctuary


red drink

red drink (countable and uncountable, plural red drinks)

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

(US) Any of various sweetened red non-alcoholic drinks associated with soul food and often made with hibiscus.


freshmanitis

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

From freshman + -itis, on the pattern of senioritis.

Freshmanitis is justifying poor decisions because you’re a Freshman. It’s like “YOLO,” but instead you say, “I’m a freshman – I didn’t know better.”

2015 April 17, Lisa Mengotto, “Freshmanitis”, in The Stute:

Since one of the common psychological symptoms of freshmanitis is increased appetite, it is believed that giving students the option to eat as much as they want will often lead to Freshman 15.

2015 July 9, Erik Chiodo, “A treatment for freshmanitis: Some tips for freshman year”, in Campus Times:

However, I feel like freshmanitis isn’t a unique phenomenon as much as it is just a new word for a ubiquitous feeling.

2024 May 6, Carly Heffernan, “What Even is Freshmanitis?”, in The Port Press:

(US, rare) A tendency of (mostly college) freshmen to be overwhelmed by the amount of work as well as make unwise choices.


sophomoritis

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

From sophomore + -itis, on the pattern of senioritis.

It’s not unique, everyone goes through them, but I think it’s oddly understandable for things like this to contribute to sophomoritis.

(Can we date this quote?), Madison Holt, Joselyn Pena, “Is “Sophomoritis” a Thing?”, in Her Campus:

There’s now freshmanitis, sophomoritis, and junioritis.

(US, rare) A tendency of sophomores in high school or college to slack off and lose motivation as if they were seniors with senioritis.


double X

From X, the Roman numeral representing 10.

“Hikes aroun’ wit’ a hundre’ an’ ninety bucks in ’is kick an’ won’t loosen a double X fer an ol’ frien’ what’s up again’ it? Why, dat guy ain’t got de firs’ idee about bein’ square wit’ a pal or librul wit’ an ol’ friend in de same line. An’—”

1916, Jack Lait, “The Canada Kid” (chapter 9), in Beef, Iron and Wine, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, pages 178–179:

(US, slang, dated) Twenty dollars; a $20 bill.


drop like a hot skillet

en-verb

drop like a hot skillet (third-person singular simple present drops like a hot skillet, present participle dropping like a hot skillet, simple past and past participle dropped like a hot skillet)

drops like a hot skillet (present singular third-person)
dropping like a hot skillet (participle present)
dropped like a hot skillet (participle past)
dropped like a hot skillet (past)

drop like a hot potato
drop like a hot potato#English


friend of the court

en-noun

friend of the court (plural friends of the court)

friends of the court (plural)
friend-of-the-court (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-friend of the court.wav

He did not know whether Mr. Henry appeared as the friend of the Court, or in behalf of the State.

1867 December 15, “Contempt. Proceedings of the Criminal Court Yesterday”, in The Daily Memphis Avalanche, page 2:

Finally, the two Third Circuit cases cited by the friends of the Court have, as they themselves say, been legislatively overruled.

1948, United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth Circuit, No. 12027 Estate of Frank K. Sullivan […] v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, page 12:

the Union and its affiliates across the nation intervened — through test suits and friend of the court briefs, through educational programs, and through public statements of policy and protest.

1958 January 2, American Civil Liberties Union, News Release, New York:

Thus far, these pronuclear public interest law firms have usually contributed friend-of-the-court briefs to existing litigation, rather than filing suits themselves.

1980, Constance Ewing Cook, Nuclear Power and Legal Advocacy, page 23:

(law, US, Canada) Amicus curiae, a person or organization allowed to argue in court who is not a party to the legal action.


godmom

(Canada, South Africa, US, West Midlands, colloquial, informal) Godmother.


high-value target

high-value target (plural high-value targets)

(US military) A person or resource which an enemy commander can least afford to lose.


hike the Appalachian Trail

en-verb

hike<,hiking,hiked> the Appalachian Trail

hike the Appalachian Trail (third-person singular simple present hikes the Appalachian Trail, present participle hiking the Appalachian Trail, simple past and past participle hiked the Appalachian Trail)

hikes the Appalachian Trail (present singular third-person)
hiking the Appalachian Trail (participle present)
hiked the Appalachian Trail (participle past)
hiked the Appalachian Trail (past)

Referring to the excuse given by the spokesperson of the former Governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford during his disappearance from June 18 to June 24, 2009.
Upon returning from his absence, Governor Sanford gave a press conference and confessed to having travelled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to visit a woman with whom he had been having an extramarital affair.

(chiefly US, colloquial) To engage in an extramarital affair.


twin XL

The twin XL has a twin-size width—helpful given dorm rooms' limited space—and its king-size length, presumably, is a bone thrown to the comfort of students whose bodies are, after all, adult-size. ¶ Twin XLs are so specific to colleges that some families begin the college-preparation process having never heard of the size.

2019 August 31, Alia Wong, “How Twin XL Beds Took Over College Campuses”, in The Atlantic:

(US) A mattress that is slightly longer (usually 38.5 × 79.5 in or 98 × 202 cm) than a twin; a bed designed for such a mattress.


not for attribution

(US, journalism) Indicating that a source must not be named.


godmommy

godmommies (plural)
godmummy (alternative)

(Canada, South Africa, US, West Midlands, colloquial, usually childish) Godmother.


blinkah

Failure to use a 'blinkah' when changing lanes is a ticketable offense in Massachusetts.

2014 September 5, “MassDOT Signs Remind Commuters To 'Use Yah Blinkah'”, in CBS News:

It appears to me that use of the blinkah is more or less a lost art here in New England — or maybe it was never an art in the first place.

2021 March 26, Doug Brandel, “Outsidah: Don’t be a stinkah — use ya blinkah!”, in North Shore News:

(US, Boston) Pronunciation spelling of blinker.


N.S.A.

Alternative form: NSA

The sweetness of historical vindication pervades “Winner,” Susanna Fogel’s bio-pic about Reality Winner, who, in 2018, pleaded guilty to retaining and transmitting national-defense information to the media, while employed by a military contractor working for the N.S.A.

2024 September 11, Richard Brody, ““Winner” Takes Political Comedy Seriously”, in The New Yorker:

National Security Agency
w:National Security Agency

(government, US) Initialism of National Security Agency.


SLU

Saint Louis University
w:Saint Louis University

(US) Initialism of Saint Louis University.


infairness

(US, Philippines) Alternative form of in fairness


Tarjay

Written form of the pronunciation of the et in Target like ballet, as if it were a French word, so that it seems fancier than it really is.

The Tarjay shopper pretended that they were shopping at a European fashion brand, while making clear that they knew they weren’t.

2020 August 26, Dr Matthew Bailey, “RIP Tarjay: where did it go wrong for Target?”, in The Lighthouse:

(chiefly Australia, US, humorous) Target


police jury

(US, law enforcement) The most common type of governing body for a parish in the state of Louisiana.


Minnesota Nice

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

Dr. Gibson called me in part because she knew I like to provoke, tickle, and prod. She knew I would respond yes, with Minnesota Nice, but what she really was after was my [...] New Yorker attitude...

1989, Helping Learners Learn at a Distance: Fifth Annual Conference on Teaching at a Distance, Madison, Wisconsin, August 8-10, 1989, The University, page 28:

(US) Alternative letter-case form of Minnesota nice


windjam

windjam (third-person singular simple present windjams, present participle windjamming, simple past and past participle windjammed)

windjams (present singular third-person)
windjamming (participle present)
windjammed (participle past)
windjammed (past)
wind-jam (alternative)

From wind + jam. Possibly a back-formation of windjammer.

He set a hand on the small of her back, steered her to the rear of the salon. "This'll take five minutes." You got time to windjam with Alice, you got time for me.

2005, Forbes, Mary J, Everything She's Ever Wanted, New York, N.Y.: Silhouette Books, →ISBN, page 209:

(US, slang) To speak in a long-winded manner; to chatter, bloviate.


candied yams

(US, cooking) A holiday side dish of sweet potatoes baked in a spiced, buttery syrup.


office pool

(US) An informal sweepstake held by the employees in an office.


funfetti

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

(US, trademark) A type of cake with rainbow colored sprinkles baked into the batter.


high-cheekboner

And according to NBC Universal, only 0.4 percent of its workforce identifies as Native—self-identified “Indians”—meaning anyone on staff can claim to be Native American by checking the box, including people known in Indian Country as “box-checkers” or “high-cheekboners.”

[2024 September 25, Simon Moya-Smith, “A Native Movement Hopes to Get Out the Vote. But Some Native Americans Say, “No Thanks!””, in The Nation, retrieved 2025-09-26:

(US) Synonym of box checker (“someone who is counted in an organization as representing a minority ethnic group but who is so assimilated into the dominant culture that their ethnic status becomes meaningless”)


white pie

en-noun

white pie (countable and uncountable, plural white pies)


HSA

HSA (countable and uncountable, plural HSAs)

health savings account
w:health savings account

(US, countable) Initialism of health savings account.


Roughrider

(US, military, dated, slang) A member of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-American War


sherm stick

(slang, US, drugs) A cigarette or joint laced with phencyclidine.


plain view doctrine

(US, law) An exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement that allows an officer to seize evidence and contraband that are found in plain view during a lawful observation.


field training officer

field training officer (plural field training officers)

(US, law enforcement) An experienced or senior member of an organization who is responsible for the training and evaluation of a junior or probationary level member.


woso

(Internet, soccer, US, Canada, Australia) women's soccer


fall-like

en-adj

fall-like (comparative more fall-like, superlative most fall-like)

more fall-like (comparative)
most fall-like (superlative)

Next week, it will begin to feel a lot more fall-like.

fall-like temperatures

(Canada, US) Typical or characteristic of fall (autumn); autumnal.


buttjob

buttjobs (plural)
butt job (alternative)

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

(slang, Canada, US, vulgar) An act or instance of stimulation of the penis using the buttocks.


butt job

(informal, Canada, US) A plastic surgical procedure to alter the appearance of the buttocks, especially for cosmetic reasons; the resulting physical appearance of the buttocks.


USMLE

“You know my other guy who just passed his exams? He has written USMLE already. Small time now, he will leave this country.”

2023, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, A Spell of Good Things, Canongate Books, page 210:

(US, education) Initialism of United States Medical Licensing Examination: a test which medical graduates from other countries must pass to obtain the right to practise medicine in the USA.


white boy wasted

(US, slang) Extremely intoxicated from drugs or alcohol.


diversity statement

en-noun

diversity statement (plural diversity statements)

(Canada, US) A (sometimes mandatory) document in which a candidate for an academic job describes how they will attempt to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).


drop the pilot

en-verb

drop the pilot (third-person singular simple present drops the pilot, present participle dropping the pilot, simple past and past participle dropped the pilot)

drops the pilot (present singular third-person)
dropping the pilot (participle present)
dropped the pilot (participle past)
dropped the pilot (past)

“Jeepers creepers, sweetie pie. You want to drop the pilot?” Bessie nodded, trembling. “I think it's best. My father knows somebody who can handle the divorce […]

2018, Charlotte Laws, Devil in the Basement:


osteopathic medicine

Coordinate term: osteopathy

(especially Canada, US) A form of scientific medicine whose present-day form scientifically and legally overlaps with non-osteopathic medical science and practice. It developed from origins in osteopathy but diverged therefrom during the 20th century; today, an MD degree and a DO degree have professional parity.


blackout date

(US, marketing, travel) A date when travel rewards or other special discounts or promotions are unavailable.


hoptoad

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

I'd like to turn her into a fat, old hoptoad.

Jumpin' hoptoads!


green queen

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

From green + queen (“an effeminate or homosexual man”).

com

queen<id:homosexual man><t:an effeminate or homosexual man>

(US, gay slang) A gay man who derives sexual pleasure from engaging in public sex in parks, near bushes and trees.


eyeball queen

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

From eyeball + queen (“effeminate or homosexual man”).

queen<id:homosexual man><t:effeminate or homosexual man>

(US, gay slang) A gay man who derives sexual pleasure from observing other people, especially when they are engaing in a sexual activity.


snowflake queen

en-noun

snowflake queen (plural snowflake queens)

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

From snowflake + queen (“effeminate or homosexual man”).

com

(US, gay slang) A gay man who derives sexual pleasure from having semen ejaculated on one's face.


AWFUL

2024, @bayareahausfrau, She's AWFUL... Affluent White Female Urban Liberal.:

(US, neologism, politics, social media) Initialism of affluent white female urban liberal.


OPTEMPO

“The air defense, artillery community is the most stressed. They have the highest ‘optempo’ really of any part of the Army,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said, using a phrase meaning the pace of operations.

2024 October 14, Lolita C. Baldor, quoting Christine Wormuth, “Sending a THAAD air defense system to Israel adds to strain on US Army forces”, in AP News:

(US, military) Short for operations tempo.


USAFFE

w:United States Army Forces in the Far East

(Philippines, US, historical) Acronym of United States Army Forces in the Far East.


nuisance candidate

en-noun

nuisance candidate (plural nuisance candidates)

(US, Philippines, politics, law) A candidate for election meant to present the election process as a mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among voters (e.g. via similarity of names of candidates)


heavy man

(US, slang, dated) A lawbreaker or criminal.


sit one's butt down

en-verb

sit one's butt down (third-person singular simple present sits one's butt down, present participle sitting one's butt down, simple past and past participle sat one's butt down)

sits one's butt down (present singular third-person)
sitting one's butt down (participle present)
sat one's butt down (participle past)
sat one's butt down (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sit one's butt down.wav

I'm passing the phone to the annoying person whose only hobby is tossing me in the air fryer and shoving tissues down my throat whenever they feel like it. Sit your butt down, buddy.

(slang, Canada, US, somewhat vulgar) To listen to another person without interrupting.


Reno divorce

1927-10-22, Ralph Graves, Robert Lord, directed by Ralph Graves, A Reno Divorce, Warner Bros., Vitaphone production reels #2331-2337

But I still recalled her threat to harass and annoy with litigation unless I obtained a Reno divorce against her. I was, therefore, left with no other alternative but to go through with the Reno divorce action without her appearance therein.

1935 December 14, “Affidavit of Isaac Levy”, in Case Press, Inc., compiler, Case opinions, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, volume 5036, Walton, N.Y.: The Reporter Company, Inc, page 67:

In 1931, to capitalize on the income potential from being the country's new divorce mecca, the Nevada legislature shortened the residency period from six months to a mere six weeks, putting a Reno divorce within the financial reach of the average person.

2009 March 3, John Ventura, Mary Reed, Divorce For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 255:

Because Reno was Nevada's largest and most sophisticated city, to Reno they came—first Laura Corey to divorce the philandering president of U.S. Steel, then other members of New York society, and then journalists to report on the phenomenon of “going to Reno”. Reno divorces were news in the society pages of eastern newspapers by the early teens[…]

2011 March 3, Carl Abbott, How Cities Won the West: Four Centuries of Urban Change in Western North America, University of New Mexico Press, →ISBN, page 130:

no-fault divorce
no-fault divorce#English

(historical) A divorce obtained in Reno, Nevada, prior to the widespread institution of no-fault divorce in the 1970s United States. Prior to this, many states imposed onerous requirements on the granting of divorces, while Nevada's (as well as some other states') were relatively lax. Nevada required only six months of residency in the state to establish legal residency (which allowed people to bring cases in its courts), a period further lowered to six weeks in 1931, leading many people seeking divorces to temporarily move to Nevada for this purpose.


gate lice

(travel, derogatory, US) Passengers who crowd around the boarding gate in hopes of being the first in their boarding group or outright attempt to board a plane before their assigned time to do so.


fingy

(slang, Antarctica or US, military) Synonym of FNG (“fucking new guy”)


Puzzle Palace

There hadn't been such a sense of united urgency in the Puzzle Palace since Dixon had ordered the bombings in the Middle East.

2008, Eddy Shah, Second World, page 110:

(US, slang) The headquarters of the National Security Agency.


fruity in the booty

en-adj

fruity in the booty (comparative more fruity in the booty, superlative most fruity in the booty)

more fruity in the booty (comparative)
most fruity in the booty (superlative)

An extension of fruity (“effeminate, flamboyant; homosexual”).

I've noticed you are quite fruity in the booty. ¶ Logic 101, guys who use : ) outside of conversations with girls are gay.

2000 October 13, drunkerpelican, “Re: Ever notice how...”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet):

(slang, chiefly US, of a male) Effeminate, flamboyant; homosexual.


McDank's

(US, slang) McDonald's (a fast food restaurant chain).


jackwad

(Canada, US, slang, derogatory) A bad or stupid person; bastard.


banjo-eyed

banjo-eyed (comparative more banjo-eyed, superlative most banjo-eyed)

more banjo-eyed (comparative)
most banjo-eyed (superlative)

(US, Canada, slang) Having wide open eyes, as from being surprised or startled.


Banjo Eyes

(US, slang, humorous) Nickname for Eddie Cantor.


Empty-Vee

tlb

(dated, slang, chiefly US, humorous, derogatory)

A pun on MTV (originally "Music Television"; American cable television channel) and empty; from a belief that the channel's programming is vacuous.

gl

eMpTyV (alternative)
Empty Vee (alternative)
empty-vee (alternative)
Empty-V (alternative)
Emptyv (alternative)
EmptyV (alternative)
eMpTy V (alternative)

Like “We Are the World,” it too would end up as a video on Empty-Vee (MTV).

1985 August, James Wolcott, “Mixed Media”, in Tina Brown, editor, Vanity Fair, volume 48, number 8, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15:

Meanwhile, the youth of America sit glazed in front of empty-vee watching Monkees reruns.

1994, David B. Feinberg, Queer and Loathing, New York, N.Y.: Viking, →ISBN, page 18:

These clips often break the clichés and formulas of typical videos on “Empty-Vee” as some call [MTV], by using the form of music video in unexpected, provocative ways

1996, Jack Banks, Monopoly Television: MTV's Quest To Control The Music, Boulder, CO: Westview Press, →ISBN, page 206:

Not the kind of rock that you hear on the radio or see on eMpTyV

1999, Tom Minarchick, quotee, “Record Reviews”, in Jersey Beat, number 65 (zine), Weehawken, NJ: Jim Testa, →OCLC, unnumbered page, column 2:

“[…]Am I on that stupid Empty Vee show, the one where the brain dead former male model plays tricks on his rich and vapid celebrity friends?”

2006, anonymous author, “Rue the Day III (Carpe Diem)”, in Painfully Awkward, Volume Publishing, →ISBN, page 166:

cable television
cable television#English

A nickname for MTV (American cable television channel).


eMpTyV

tlb

(dated, US, slang, humorous, derogatory)

Alternative form of Empty-Vee (“MTV, American cable television channel”).


empty-vee

(dated, US, slang, derogatory, humorous)

Alternative letter-case form of Empty-Vee.


tipping-point state

en-noun

tipping-point state (plural tipping-point states)

(US, politics) In a list of states of the United States ordered by decreasing margins of victory for the winning candidate in a presidential election, the state whose votes cause the winning candidate to meet or exceed the threshold for victory when tallying the number of electoral college votes from each state.


Indian paint pot

Indian paint pot (plural Indian paint pots)

Indian paint pots (plural)
Indian paintpot (alternative)

So called because of local folklore and historical speculation in which they are said to have been used by indigenous people as sources of paint or dye. While iron oxides were indeed used as an ingredient in paints, the “pots” are a natural geological formation, and the extent to which these specific formations were utilized is unknown.

(chiefly eastern US, Long Island) A concave, iron oxide–containing mineral concretion such as red shale which sheds a chalky, reddish debris when wet and rubbed, often found along beaches.


fobbit

fobbits (plural)
FOBbit (alternative)
Fobbit (alternative)

(US, military, slang, derogatory) A soldier who avoids combat by staying within the confines of a military base.


Entity List

(US) a list of sanctioned persons and corporations prepared by the Bureau of Industry and Security. Such sanctioned targets are prohibited from accessing certain American technology unless a license is obtained.


fall orange

fall orange (countable and uncountable, plural fall oranges)


AFCENT

(US, military) Abbreviation of Air Forces Central.


ballot curing

/ˈbælət ˌkyʊər ɪŋ/

(US) the process through which voters may correct minor errors in their ballots, such as a missing signature, that would otherwise render their ballot invalid and uncountable. It is typically used in the context of absentee ballots.


crawl up someone's ass

en-verb

crawl up someone's ass (third-person singular simple present crawls up someone's ass, present participle crawling up someone's ass, simple past and past participle crawled up someone's ass)

crawls up someone's ass (present singular third-person)
crawling up someone's ass (participle present)
crawled up someone's ass (participle past)
crawled up someone's ass (past)

Feds crawling up my ass over some money transfers to business associates.

(Canada, US, slang, vulgar) To harass someone in a persistent and invasive manner.


finger drill

(US, Military, often derogatory) A simplified form of preparation for a task, in which a team verbally describes each portion of the task, counted sequentially (thus evoking a sense of "fingers"), rather than engaging in practice exercises or training.


booger sandwich

en-noun

booger sandwich (plural booger sandwiches)

(US, euphemistic) Synonym of shit sandwich


turnout pants

(Canada, US) A firefighter's protective pants (trousers).


AFCP

w:Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

(US) Initialism of Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.


Jewniversity

(slang, US, potentially offensive) A university with disproportionally many Jewish students or staff members.

(slang, US, offensive, derogatory, ethnic slur) A university, seen as a champion or indoctrinating force for Jewish interests.


Suckville

Leafs suck more than the suckiest team of the sucky sucky league of
suckville aka Torona.

2002 May 15, BobbyH, “Leaf's Still SUCK !!!”, in alt.sports.hockey.nhl.tor-mapleleafs (Usenet):

Well, if this is true, it's just another dead-end ego trip to follow it to
it's ultimate conclusion. And we all know where that leads. Nowhere.
Oblivion. Suckville, USA!

2006 September 16, gig, “The Disappearance of the Universe”, in talk.religion.course-miracle (Usenet):

I found a bakery that needs help so I can earn cash, but for a little while I'm stuck in Suckville.

2015 May 3, Elisabeth Staab, At the Stars (Evergreen Grove), Elisabeth Staab, →ISBN, →OCLC:

(US, humorous, mildly vulgar) A notional American city or town that sucks (is bad), invoked as part of comparisons or quips.


From the facts that, under this statute, (during the commission of certain felonies):
* Producing a firearm carries a mandatory 10-year prison sentence;
* Firing a firearm carries a mandatory 20-year prison sentence;
* Hitting someone with a firearm carries a mandatory 25-year to life prison sentence.

For example, when I asked the lobbyist for the Florida Sheriffs Association about the FSA's rationale for supporting 10-20-life, he responded that offenders were "getting too much gain-time and ... it just wasn't right."

2018 February 19, Heather Schoenfeld, Building the Prison State: Race and the Politics of Mass Incarceration (Chicago Series in Law and Society), University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 175:


Jew York Shitty

Earlier this
year a Jew York Shitty court blocked the paintings from returning to
Austria as scheduled because kike families claimed the works were
"plundered" from their relatives' kiddie porn collections.

1998 December 5, Ed Kadach, “Kikes Demand Straight Cash Blackmail Payoff - "or else"”, in alt.revisionism (Usenet):

The target ZOG cities, in order of value as ZOG targets, would be
Washington District of Criminals, Jew York Shitty and Tel Aviv.

2010 February 25, Dave U. Random, “m.a.d. -- mutually assured destruction”, in alt.war.nuclear (Usenet):

Which reminds me…Has anyone here seen the “wife” and
offspring of Bill DiBlasio, the new white mayor of
Jew York Shitty? That loathsome, race-mixing rat-bastid!

2014 January 17, Walt Hampton, “ML Coon Day”, in tor.general (Usenet):

(US, slang, offensive, derogatory, ethnic slur) New York City


mountain motor

(motor racing, slang, chiefly Canada, US) A large-displacement engine of the kind often used in hot rods and drag racers.


Alaskan King

(US) A very large bed measuring 108 × 108 inches (274 × 274 cm), considerably larger than a king-sized bed.


pull up your pants

A reference to sagging among African-Americans, and its associated moral panic.

Over at NewsOne, Donovan X. Ramsey contrasted two approaches President Obama has taken with black audiences: 1) the finger-wagging, pull-up-your-pants approach that he often takes with African-Americans, like the graduates at all-male Morehouse College [...]

2014 August 4, Gene Demby, “'Are You, Like, African-AMERICAN Or AFRICAN-American?'”, in NPR, archived from the original on 2015-08-13:

A particularly jarring instance is the pairing of a blasé industrial film titled The Land We Love (1966) with footage of the Watts riots in 1965, and seeing, in addition to the absence of black faces in the former, how the American Dream is a wonderful dream but is also used as a nightstick to beat those who have been systemically prevented from enjoying it. (See also: the ‘pull up your pants’/All Lives Matter crowd.)

2020 June 12, “I Am Not Your Negro review: race, rage and the American Dream”, in Sight and Sound, archived from the original on 2020-06-24:

respectability politics
respectability politics#English

(US, informal, attributive) A reference to respectability politics, especially with regard to African-Americans.


INDOPACOM

(US, military) Acronym of Indo-Pacific Command.


USAFRICOM

United States Africa Command
w:United States Africa Command

(US, military) Abbreviation of United States Africa Command.


boat-race

en-verb

boat-race (third-person singular simple present boat-races, present participle boat-racing, simple past and past participle boat-raced)

boat-races (present singular third-person)
boat-racing (participle present)
boat-raced (participle past)
boat-raced (past)
boat race (alternative)

By figurative analogy with the large margin of victory formerly common in America's Cup yacht races.

2024 May 5, Hayden Hundley, “#5 Virginia lacrosse gets boat-raced by #1 Notre Dame 18-9 in ACC semifinal”, in Streaking The Lawn:

On Friday night, the Golden State Warriors boat raced the Utah Jazz by a score of 127-86. ... The game was decided so early that Steph Curry didn’t even play in the fourth quarter.

2024 October 26, Alex White, “Jazz Taste Harsh Reality in Early Season Loss to Warriors”, in Sports Illustrated:

(US, sports, informal) to defeat by a wide margin, especially after establishing and sustaining an early lead


USPACOM

United States Pacific Command
w:United States Pacific Command

(US, military, obsolete) Abbreviation of United States Pacific Command.


USCENTCOM

United States Central Command
w:United States Central Command

(US, military) Abbreviation of United States Central Command.


USSPACECOM

United States Space Command
w:United States Space Command

(US, military) Abbreviation of United States Space Command.


SPACECOM

Space Command
w:United States Space Command

(US, military) Abbreviation of Space Command.


PACOM

(US, military) Abbreviation of Pacific Command.


Feast Week

Due to the fact that many families serve large meals for Thanksgiving

(Canada, US, especially college basketball) The week surrounding Thanksgiving Day.


coal town

unincorporated communities
unincorporated community

(US) A company town built by a mining company to house workers at a coal mine. These are usually unincorporated communities.


new shooter

(horse racing, Canada, US) A horse that has skipped the Kentucky Derby to run in the Preakness Stakes or Belmont Stakes.


dog in the fight

en-noun

dog in the fight (plural dogs in the fight)

In reference to dogfighting and its spectators.

Wilson: He's right. They endorse Royce, fine, 'the hell else they gonna do? But what they say and don't say from the pulpit the Sunday before the primary we still got a dog in that fight.
Carcetti: I do this right, they respect it.
Wilson: An' if they don't, at least they get to see a beggin’-ass white man on his knees. Always a feel-good moment for the folks.

2006 October 1, Dennis Lehane, “Refugees” (00:32:06), in The Wire, season 4, episode 4:

What is the perfect Premier League season for football fans without a dog in the fight?

2024, Max Rushden in The Guardian newspaper, Sat 17 Aug 2024

(US, chiefly in the negative, usually in the phrase 'have a dog in the fight') A personal stake in an issue.


apetempt

en-verb

apetempt (third-person singular simple present apetempts, present participle apetempting, simple past and past participle apetempted)

apetempts (present singular third-person)
apetempting (participle present)
apetempted (participle past)
apetempted (past)

For quotations using this term, see Citations:apetempt.

(US, slang, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) Of a black person, to attempt (esp. something in relation to criminal activity).


Onigger

If all the free loading liberals were dead. Planet Earth would be
eutopia^([sic]). Instead we have to carry these free loading Onigger
supporters and the world is shit.

2009 February 19, MuahMan, “All Liberals Should Be Dead”, in alt.sports.football.pro.ne-patriots (Usenet):

true or not?
Onigger said, color of skin = POTUS competence.
ONarco Mafio Rubio said, large penis size = POTUS competence.

2016 March 5, Arc Michael, “Marco Rubio bigger Penis size the smarter you are”, in alt.prophecies.nostradamus (Usenet):

it's time for this nigger from kenay^([sic]) who lied to americans about being born in hawaii, he sucks and is the worst president of all time and when the donald is president onigger and killary are going to prison

2016 May 29, tm-com...@att.net, “It's time to get rid of the nigger president in the U.S.A.”, in alt.gossip.celebrities (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) Barack Obama