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August 23, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shampaign (sham + campaign)

A "shampaign" (sham + campaign) is a fake campaign where a political candidate is running for office, but doesn't seriously have a chance of winning. There are many reasons to run a…

October 1, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shamparency (sham + transparency)

"Shamparency" (sham + transparency) is a fake transparency -- someone is pretending that all is there to see, but that person is actually hiding something. "Transparency,…

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

Sheeple (sheep + people)

"Sheeple" (sheep + people) are people who blindly follow political, business or religious leaders, "like sheep to the slaughter." The term "sheeple" seems to have been…

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

Sheeptard or Sheepletard (sheep/sheeple + retard)

"Sheep" or "sheeple" (sheep + people) are people who blindly follow political, business or religious leaders, “like sheep to the slaughter.” "Sheeptard" (sheep +…

August 1, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shit Sandwich

"Shit sandwich" can literally mean a sandwich of excrement between two slices of bread. The term "shit sandwich" is usually used as an idiom for being forced to take something…

October 30, 2014
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shit-in (“sit-in” for gender-neutral bathrooms)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Sit-inA sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or…

February 16, 2015
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shitizen (shit + citizen)

"Shitizen" (shit + citizen) is a term for a citizen (a non-elite member of society) who knows shit and/or is treated like shit. "I ain't drunk and I'm a good s-shitizen—…

November 18, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shitlib (shit + liberal)

"Shitlib" (shit + liberal) means a shitty liberal. The term has been cited in print since at least December 2013, and become popular in 2016 with the U.S. presidential election.…

October 1, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shut Happens (shut + shit happens)

"Shut happens" (shut + shit happens) is a popular sign on closed businesses. The sign has bee cited in print since at least 2006. In October 2013, "Shut Happens" was used to…

October 1, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shutdown Theater (Government Shutdown Theater)

"Shutdown theater" refers to the posturing that Democrats and Republicans make in blaming the other over a government shutdown. "Government Shutdown Theater" was cited in print…

October 3, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Shutstorm (shutdown + shitstorm)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Other shutdown terms include "shut happens" and "shutdown theater." TwitterMatt Stevens‏@stevensUNDshutstorm is way better then lockout (live at…

November 16, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Sick Man of Asia

The "Sick Man of Europe" originally described the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Wikipedia: Sick man of AsiaThe phrase "sick man of Asia" or "sick man of East Asia"…

November 16, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Sick Man of Europe

The "Sick Man of Asia" originally described China. Wikipedia: Sick man of Europe"Sick man of Europe" is a label given to a European country experiencing a time of economic…

April 17, 2011
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Signing Statement

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Signing statementA signing statement is a written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law. They are…

June 4, 2012
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Silent Service (United States Postal Inspection Service or USPIS nickname)

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) remains little-known, even though it claims an origin back to 1772 and colonial Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin. The USPIS investigates all…

October 28, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Simon Says (Simple Simon Says)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Simon SaysSimon Says (or Simple Simon Says) is a children's game for three or more players. One player takes the role of "Simon" and issues…

June 25, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Sinistrosphere (left blogosphere)

"Sinistrosphere" (often misspelled "sinestrosphere") is the politically "left blogosphere." ("Sinistro-" is Latin for "left.") The term…

October 11, 2013
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

SINO or SPINO (Speaker In Name Only)

"RINO" (Republican In Name Only) spawned many similar political acronyms. When John Boehner became Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, some said that he was 'Speaker In…

September 25, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

Six Million Jews

"Six million Jews" is the frequent number that is given for number of Jews who died in World War II (The Holocaust). Some people have disputed that number, while others -- such as this…

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

Six Phases of a Project (“Enthusiasm, disillusionment, panic…”)

The "six phases of a project" have been jocularly described as: 1. Enthusiasm,2. Disillusionment,3. Panic,4. Search for the guilty,5. Punishment of the innocent, and6. Praise and honor…

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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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