The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases. Over 41,000 entries.

Bear Hug

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: bear hugNounbear hug (plural bear hugs)1.any especially large, tight or enthusiastic hug, usually friendly Granddad scooped up the child in a big bear hug.2.in…

White Knight

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: White knight (business)In business, a white knight, or "friendly investor" may be a corporation, or a person that intends to help another firm. There…

Poison Pill

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Shareholder rights planA shareholder rights plan, colloquially known as a "poison pill", or simply "the pill" is a kind of defensive tactic…

Meltdown

A nuclear "meltdown" (or "melt-down" or "melt down") is a disaster that occurs when a nuclear reactor has melted its core. A "financial meltdown" or…

Zombie Bank

A "zombie" (as popularized in many horror movies) is someone of the living dead, who walks the earth but doesn't know that he or she is dead. A "zombie banks" is a bank…