The Big Apple:

An etymological dictionary

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

Saturday Night Special

A "Saturday night special" (or "blitzkrieg") is a surprise takeover attempt. In 1975, Colt Industries (manufacturer of guns) attempted what would be a successful takeover of…

Shark Repellent

Entry in progress -- B.P. The Free DictionaryNoun 1. shark repellent - a measure undertaken by a corporation to discourage unwanted takeover attempts Free Merriam-Webster Dictionaryshark repellent…

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…