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December 21, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rightroots

"Rightroots" (right + grassroots) is a word that was coined in August 2006 by the ABC PAC. "Rightroots" began as an effort by the political right to respond to the political…

October 24, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

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…

March 2, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthWorkers/People

Rise In Power (RIP)

“Rise in power” is sometimes used instead of “rest in peace” (from Latin Requiescat in pace) to respect someone who has died. “Rest in power” has been used by the African American…

November 28, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Ritualistic Shame Muzzle (face mask)

The 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in face mask requirements. Some people who objected to the face masks called them "shame muzzles" and "ritualistic shame…

November 22, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Road Pirates (police nickname)

"Road Pirates -- Paid by/with your money to steal your money" is a popular poster. The saying refers to "theft by cop" (civil asset forfeiture), where police stop cars and take…

May 23, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Roads, Rates and Rubbish (local government concerns)

"Roads, rates and rubbish" (also "rates, roads and rubbish") are commonly said to be the three top concerns of local government. The saying is mostly restricted to Australia and…

December 9, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Robe-itis

"Robe-itis" (or "black robe-itis") is an affliction suffered by some robed judges. A person can put on a robe and assume a god-like attitude and power, forgetting that he or she…

August 24, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Robot or -bot (Obamabot or O-bot; Paulbot)

The suffix "-bot" (for"robot") is often added after a politician's name to show deluded, robot-like followers. For the 2007-2008 U.S. presidential campaign, followers of…

August 8, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rockefailure (Rockefeller family + failure)

The Rockefeller family is an American industrial, political, and banking family. Some have nicknamed the Rockefeller family as "Rockefailure" (Rockefeller + failure). "PROFILE/John…

July 27, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rockefeller Republican

The political term "Rockefeller Republican" takes its name from Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979), the Republican governor of New York from 1959 to 1973, who then became vice president of…

May 30, 2009
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rockefinger or Rockefeller Salute (Nelson Rockefeller’s middle finger gesture)

"Rockefinger," "Rockefeller salute" and "Rockefeller gesture" are names for the middle finger protruding from a clenched fist -- also called "the finger,"…

September 4, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rome on the Potomac (Washington, DC nickname)

Washington, District of Columbia, is located on the Potomac River. Washington is infrequently nicknamed "Rome on the Potomac," after Rome, Italy, and its ancient empire. In the late…

July 11, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Ronaldus Magnus or Ronaldus Maximus (Ronald Reagan’s presidential years)

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981-1989). Many conservatives look back on Reagan's presidency as a halcyon time for conservatism. Conservative radio…

August 16, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rose Garden Strategy

The White House Rose Garden borders the Oval Office and the West Wing. The term "Rose Garden strategy" (or "Rose Garden campaign") was popularized in September 1976, when…

August 8, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Rottenschild or Rottenchild (rotten + Rothschild family)

The Rothschild family has been involved in international banking and finance for over 300 years. The Rothschild family has been nicknamed "Rottenchild" or "Rottenschild" (rotten…

December 30, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Run, Death Is Near (Remdesivir nickname)

Remdesivir is a product by the biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences that was approved in November 2020, during the COIVD-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, for the treatment of COVID-19. Many critics…

January 11, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Sabre-rattling

"Sabre-rattling" (also spelled "saber-rattling") is when a person or a government threatens to use force against another, just as a soldier rattles a sabre against an enemy.…

July 9, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Safe Six or #SafeSix (six feet apart social distancing)

"Safe Six" or "#SafeSix" (six feet apart social distancing) is a pun on "safe sex." The term became popular during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. "Practice…

October 14, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Salami Tactics

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Salami tacticsSalami tactics, also known as the salami-slice strategy, is a divide and conquer process of threats and alliances used to overcome opposition.…

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

Sanctuary City

A "sanctuary city" in the United States is one where the city protects illegal immigrants from certain practices, such as asking about a person's legal status. The term…

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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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