Note: “Turkey” is a long-standing slang word for something or someone that performs poorly. A synonym for “trading turkeys” is
dance of the lemons. A related term, also mentioned in the article cited here, is
rubber room, where teachers who are lemons or turkeys spend their days while waiting disciplinary action.
Part of Speech: v. phr.
Quotation: I’ve seen firsthand how exasperatingly difficult it has been for principals to oust abusive, incapable or negligent teachers who are protected by a powerful union. Instead, some principals would privately agree to swap problem teachers in a process known as “trading turkeys.”
Author:
Samuel G. Freedman
Date of Publication:
Oct. 10, 2007
This catchword has yet to be researched.