Politics of Personal Destruction
During Bill Clinton's successful campaign for the U.S. presidency in 1992, questions about his character began to emerge. Reports of extra-marital affairs with Gennifer Flowers and of dodging…
1960s: Fun City
Politics of Respectability
The term "politics of respectability" is credited to a chapter title in Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham's book, Righteous Discontent: The women's movement in the Black Baptist…
PolitiFarce (PolitiFact nickname)
PolitiFact.com began in August 2007 as a political fact-checking service by the St. Petersburg (FL) Times. In January 2010, PolitiFact expanded to the Austin (TX) American-Statesman, and then to…
Politiho (Politico + ho/whore)
A "politico" (cited in English print since at least the 1600s) is a politician, or someone who works for a politician or holds strong political views. Politico.com (founded in 2007) is a…
Politiquera (campaign worker or vote broker)
A "politiquera" is a "campaign worker" (or "vote broker") and is a familiar figure in South Texas. The politiqueras are mostly female, and they drive people to the…
Poliwood (politics + Hollywood)
"Poliwood" or "poliwood" (politics + Hollywood) is an infrequently used term that is also the title of a 2009 documentary film about 2008's presidential race. Film…
Polterheist (poltergeist + heist)
"Polterheist" (poltergeist + heist) is a made-up word that is used in jokes. The movie Poltergeist (1982) popularized the title word. "Idea for a film: 'Polterheist' George…
Polyester of Lettuce (iceberg lettuce nickname)
Iceberg lettuce is a popular lettuce in the United States and is commonly served at restaurants, but it's mostly water and doesn't have the nutritional value or the flavor of other…
Polygummy (polygamy + gummy bear)
Gummy bears (small, fruit gum candies) have nothing to do with polygamy, but there is the joke portmanteau word "polygummy" (polygamy + gummy bear). "Polygummy Bears" was posted…
Polyjamorous (polyamorous + jam)
"I listen to every genre of music. I'm polyjamorous" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. The word "polyjamorous" is a portmanteau of the words…
Ponche Navideño or Ponche de Navidad (Mexican Christmas Punch)
Texans of Mexican heritage often serve a traditional Ponche Navideño or Ponche de Navidad (Christmas Punch). The drink is usually made with tecojotes (a Mexican fruit resembling a crabapple, not…
Ponzi Scheme
A "Ponzi scheme" is the method developed by Charles Ponzi (1882-1949), using international reply coupons for postage stamps, to allegedly make money for investors. Ponzi's method was…
Ponzimonium (Ponzi scheme + pandemonium)
The word "ponzimonium" (Ponzi scheme + pandemonium) was coined by Bart Chilton, a commissioner on the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in March 2009. Chilton…
Ponzinomics (Ponzi scheme + economics)
Ponzinomics (Ponzi scheme + economics) is an economy based on an unsustainable Ponzi scheme, such as printing fiat money and incurring large debts. The term "Ponzinomics" has been cited…
Pooch (puchera/puchero?)
"Pooch" was a cowboy stew of tomatoes, sugar, and bread. The name probably comes from the Spanish puchera or puchero, meaning a stew. However, more historical citations are needed;…
Poop (three-point shot in basketball)
New York Knicks basketball player Shawne Williams was known for his three-point accuracy during the 2010-11 NBA season. On the Knicks blog Posting and Toasting on December 5, 2010, Thelonious Dunk…
Poopstock (Occupy Wall Street nickname)
The 2011 "Occupy Wall Street" protests began in Manhattan's Zuccotti Park and spread to many other cities, protesting Wall Street greedand other (mostly far left) political causes.…
Poor Boy (four lane undivided highway)
A "poor boy highway" is a four-lane undivided highway (usually converted from a two-lane highway, with paved shoulders). It's a "poor boy's" way to make a four-lane…
Poor Boy Sandwich (Po’ Boy Sandwich)
The "poor boy" ("po' boy") sandwich began in New Orleans, about 1929, when it was popularized (or coined) by Benny and Clovis Martin. It's another regional sandwich…
Poor Door
New York City grants tax breaks to developers who set aside a certain portion of their buildings for affordable housing. An Extell building at 40 Riverside Boulevard, between 61st and 62nd streets,…