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…
Archive for 10/2009
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…
Nyets (Nets basketball team nickname)
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov expressed an interest, in September 2009, of buying the New Jersey Nets professional bastketball team and then moving the team to a new arena to be built in…
“For the love of Mike”
Entry in progress -- B.P. "For the love of Pete" ("for Pete's sake") is a similar saying. (Oxford English Dictionary)love, n.colloq. for the love of Mike [probably showing…
Citigov (Citigroup + Government)
Citigroup Inc. is one of the largest banks in the world, but it required a federal bailout in 2008-2009 to survive. When the company's website went down in February 2009, website users…
Whisper Number
A "whisper number" is an unofficial earnings estimate -- a rumor or "whispered number" among analysts. A company might project an official earnings estimate, but analysts often…
Fraudacity (fraud + audacity)
"Fraudacity" (fraud + audacity) is sometimes used to parody Barack Obama's 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope. On October 17, 2008, Karl Denninger wrote on "The Fraudacity of…
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”
"Show me your friends and I will tell you what you are" is cited in print from at least 1828 and is said to be a Spanish proverb. "Show me your friends and I'll show you your…
Camel’s Nose
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Camel's nose The camel's nose is a metaphor for a situation where permitting some small undesirable situation will allow gradual and unavoidable…
“It’s five o’clock somewhere” (drinking saying)
Five o'clock is when many people get out of work and when many bars open. "It's five o'clock somewhere" is a drinking expression -- an old excuse that it's always time…