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…
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Rathole (“money down the rathole”)
To throw or to pour something "down a/the rathole" means to put it in an endless space (where lots of rats enter and leave). "Money down a/the rathole" is money wasted, not to…
Chaircreature (Chairman of the Federal Reserve nickname)
"Chaircreature" was a character in the television science fiction series, The Tomorrow People (1979). The creature chaired the Galactic Federation. Chairmen (and chairwomen) have been…
“A safety net should be a trampoline as opposed to a hammock”
“We want to make the safety net a trampoline as opposed to a hammock,” said Massachusetts Governor William Weld in July 1991. The "safety net" and "hammock" imagery --…
Rent-a-Crowd (Rent-a-Mob)
"Rent-a-crowd" (or "rentacrowd") and "rent-a-mob" (or "rentamob") are terms dating from the mid-1960s referring to fake agitation for or against a cause or a…
“Leverage is a double-edged sword”
A "double-edged sword" has two cutting edges; in finance, a "double-edged sword" means something that has both potential benefits and liabilities. Financial leverage can…
“Never sell what you haven’t got”
"Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was reported by at least 1870 to have said "Never sell what you haven't got." According to some accounts, Vanderbilt said this…
“America is the first nation in history founded on an idea”
Many political speeches, such as the 2011 State of the Union Address given by President Barack Obama, have claimed that the United States is "the first nation to be founded for the sake of an…
“If you haven’t been fired at least once, you haven’t worked in radio”
"If you haven't been fired, you haven't been in radio long enough" has been cited in print since at least 1982. Radio and television broadcasting are driven by ratings. Format…
“A face for radio”
An attractive man or woman has a "face for the movies" or a "face for television." To say that someone has a "face for radio" (where that face is not seen) is to say…
Pathocracy (Pathocrat)
A "pathocracy" is a government run by "pathocrats" -- that is, pathological personalities or psychopaths. The term "pathocracy" was used by Andrew Lobaczewski in his…
Aisle Hog
Steve Kornacki of Salon.com wrote before the January 2011 State of the Union (SOTU) address, "Meet Congress's 5 biggest aisle hogs: You see them every time a president enters the House to…
“Never underestimate the intelligence of your readers, but never overestimate their knowledge”
"Never underestimate the intelligence of your readers/viewers, but never overestimate their knowledge" is a popular media maxim. Readers/viewers are smart, but they might not have all the…
“Check a story, lose a story”
"Check a story, lose a story" is an old saying in the gossip column business. The saying has been credit to Hollywood gossip columnists Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) and Louella Parsons…
“The editor’s indecision is final”
"The editor's indecision is final" is a popular newspaper saying. The quotation has been cited in print since at least 1976 and is often associated with The Observer (London)…
“Names make the news”
"Names make (the) news" is a popular axiom of the press. People like to see their names in the press, and several people in government and in business are standard interviews on certain…
“The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”
"The duty/job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" is credited to the "Mr. Dooley character of Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), who wrote in 1902:…
“There are no dull stories, only dull reporters”
"There are no dull stories, only dull reporters/writers/authors" is often said about newspaper writing and other writing. Longtime New York City newspaper columist Franklin Pierce Adams…
Taxicide or Tax-icide (tax + suicide)
"Taxicide" or "tax-icide" (tax + suicide) was the name given by the New York (NY) Daily News on February 20, 2010, to the February 18th incident in Austin, TX, where Joseph…
“Tell it to Sweeney! The Stuyvesants will understand.”
"Tell it to Sweeney! (The Stuyvesants will understand.)" was an advertisement for the New York (NY) Daily News, first appearing in August 1922. The Daily News positioned itself as the…