Repugnican or Repug (Republican party nickname)
"Repugnican" (repugnant + Republican) is a derogatory nickname for a member of the Republican party. "Repugnican" is cited in print from November 1994, but most of the printed…
Demonrat (Democrat party nickname)
"Demonrat" (or "demon rat," with capitalization optional) is a derogatory nickname for a member of the Democrat party. "Demonrat" is cited in print from November 2000…
Victicrat
"Victicrat" (from the word "victim" and the suffix "-crat," meaning an advocate of a particular form of rule) was coined by libertarian commentator Larry Elder and has…
Culinology (culinary + technology)
"Culinology" (culinary arts + food technology) is a word coined by Winston Riley, the first president and founder of the Research Chefs Association. "Culinology" is a registered…
Useless Nations (United Nations nickname)
"Useless Nations" has been a nickname of the United Nations applied by critics since at least 1961. Many Americans criticize that the United States pays the most to support the UN, but…
“Collapse/Fall/Fold faster than Lehman Brothers”
The financial firm of Lehman Brothers collapsed quickly into bankruptcy in 2008. The phrase "collapsed/fallen/folded faster than Lehman Brothers" was used on many blogs in September 2008.…
Gold-digger
A "gold-digger" (or "gold digger") is someone who digs for gold. The Broadway play The Gold Diggers, a comedy in three acts by Avery Hopwood that starred Ina Claire, opened on…
DINO (Democrat In Name Only)
A "DINO" is a "Democrat In Name Only." The Democrat party is symbolized by the donkey; DINO is symbolized by the dinosaur. A DINO is someone who is a registered Democrat but who…
DIABLO (Democrat In All But Label Only)
Conservative pundit Mark Steyn coined the term "DIABLO" (Democrat In All But Label Only) in National Review Online's The Corner on October 21, 2009. Steyn was discussing New York…
RINO (Republican In Name Only)
A "RINO" is a "Republican In Name Only." The Republican party is symbolized by the elephant; RINO is symbolized by the rhino. A RINO is someone who is a registered Republican…
Funemployment
"Funemployment" (fun + unemployment) usually refers to a young person without family obligations, who experiences a layoff or a release from an unexciting job, and who uses unemployment…
Lamestream Media (Lame Stream Media)
"Lamestream media" or "lame stream media" (LSM) is an unflattering nickname that some have applied to the "mainstream media" (MSM). Newspapers such as the New York…
Past Tense Media
"Past tense media" is an unflattering nickname for the mainstream media (MSM) (such as newspapers and magazines) that are often late to news stories, reporting on them days or weeks after…
“Party of ‘no’” (opposition party)
An opposition party -- unable to pass any legislation -- is often called a "party of 'no.'" The party often votes in a block to oppose a bill; the bill still passes and becomes…
“Out in left field” (“Out of left field”)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Left fielderOut of left fieldThe phrase "out of left field" is popular vernacular (first attested in 1961) meaning "wildly unrelated to the…
“Out where the buses don’t run”
"Out where the buses don't run" (or "where the trains don't stop") is a place out of the mainstream or "out in left field." A 1985 episode of the television…
Westerned
"Get Westerned" is explained in a 2009 Dallas (TX) Morning News business article by Cheryl Hall (see below) as a Texas term for when a business deal goes sideways or upside down.…
Enemies List
"Enemies lists" have probably always been made. An aria in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, The Mikado (1885), contains the lyrics: "I've got a little list — I've…
“Never order sweet tea in a state that does not have an SEC team”
Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard (1946-1994) is credited with this as-yet-unsourced saying: "Never order sweet tea in a state that doesn't have an SEC team." The expression is…
Nots (Nets basketball team nickname)
The New Jersey Nets team joined the NBA in 1976 and has been an underperforming professional basketball franchise for most of its NBA existence. The nickname "Nots" has been used since at…