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October 25, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Anti-vaccer (Antivaccer)

Someone who is "anti-vaccination" has been called an "anti-vaccer" (antivaccer) or "anti-vaxer" (antivaxer) or "anti-vaxxer" (antivaxxer). The terms --…

November 5, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Anti-vaxer (Antivaxer)

Someone who is "anti-vaccination" has been called an "anti-vaccer" (antivaccer) or "anti-vaxer" (antivaxer) or "anti-vaxxer" (antivaxxer). The terms --…

November 5, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Anti-vaxxer (Antivaxxer)

Someone who is "anti-vaccination" has been called an "anti-vaccer" (antivaccer) or "anti-vaxer" (antivaxer) or "anti-vaxxer" (antivaxxer). The terms --…

June 29, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Antimasker

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic resulted in some requirements to wear face masks. An "anti-masker" is someone who objects to government directives to wear face masks. "#antimasker…

August 22, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Aren’t Ready for the Marines Yet (“army” backronym)

"Aren't Ready for the Marines Yet" (sometimes also "Aren't Ready to be Marines Yet" and "Aren't Really Marines Yet") is a backronym (back acronym) for…

September 4, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Armchair Isolationism (Armchair Isolationist)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Congress in September 2013 that the United States should intervene in Syria, following the evidence of a chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government on…

October 20, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Arrestable (protester predetermined to be arrested)

An "arrestable offense" is some action that violates the law. "Arrestables" are protesters who are predetermined to be arrested. Organizers of protests often stage the arrests…

June 14, 2026
Banking/Finance/InsuranceFood/DrinkGovernment/Law/Military/Religion /HealthRestaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food StoresTransportation

As long as you don’t need gas, groceries, affordable healthcare, retirement savings or constitutional rights, things aren’t so bad.

Inflation shows most noticeably in food prices and gas prices. A joke is that if you don't need food or gas, you're okay. "As long as you don’t need gas, groceries or retirement…

May 2, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Assassiversary (assassination + anniversary)

An "assassiversary" (assassination + anniversary) is the anniversary of an assassination. For example, November 22nd is the "assassiversary" of the 1963 assassination of John F.…

January 29, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Astroturf (Astroturfing)

"AstroTurf" is a proprietary name (trademarked in 1968) for an artificial grass. While a "grassroots" political campaign has authentic support, an "astroturf" campaign…

September 13, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthOrigin of “Uncle Sam”/“Brother Jonathan”

Aunt Samantha (wife of Uncle Sam)

"Uncle Sam" has symbolized the "United States" (both have the initials "U.S.") since 1812. It wasn't until 100 years later that anyone thought to give him a wife.…

September 27, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthOrigin of “Uncle Sam”/“Brother Jonathan”

Aunt Sammy (sister of Uncle Sam)

“Aunt Sammy” was a radio character created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics in 1926 to educate homemakers. The show was renamed…

August 12, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Autohoaxer; Autohoaxing

An "autohoaxer" is someone who believes that nearly everything that is shown on the mainstream media is a hoax. "The Hoaxer Movement - The Insanity of the Everything is a Hoax Crowd.…

December 4, 2018
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Ballot Harvesting

"Ballot harvesting" refers to collecting absentee ballots. The "harvesting" system is legal in some states and legal in others. Political operatives go into neighborhoods,…

September 24, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Ballotocracy (ballot + -ocracy)

Entry in progress -- B.P. TwitterAlfred Raouf‏@Kemety@AmrEzzat I'm writing a blog called ballotocracy :D4:33 PM - 8 Mar 13 TwitterShadi Hamid‏@shadihamidSome have taken to dismissing…

June 10, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (“Bible” backronym)

"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" is a backronym (back acronym) for the word "BIBLE." The backronym has been cited in print since at least August 1992, when a jail…

October 13, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Battlefield of Ideas (War of Ideas; Marketplace of Ideas)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Marketplace of ideasThe "marketplace of ideas" is a rationale for freedom of expression based on an analogy to the economic concept of a free market.…

June 24, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Battleground State

A "battleground state" is one of the fifty states of the United States that could support either one of the two political parties, Republican or Democrat. Political candidates for…

April 13, 2008
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Bear Mountain Compact (Tappan Zee Bridge Rule)

Albany (the state capital) has its own version of the "sin city" slogan: "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Legislators from downstate (New York City and its suburbs) would…

January 29, 2016
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Beauty Contest (non-binding primary)

A political contest that has no binding vote and is mostly for show -- such as a straw poll -- is called a "beauty contest." The most attractive candidate wins, but it's all for…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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