Politics Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary

Citations in the Category Politics

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back door draft n. [Arnold] Garcia:&hellip’“The use of the increaseing dependence on the reserve and guard components amounts to, as one of the editorial writers said in a meeting yesterday, a back door draft.”…[Carol] Lin: “That’s interesting. A back door draft. In a sense even though it’s a volunteer army, but these guys didn’t sign up with the idea of spending their Christmas in the desert, I [sic] sure, certainly under these battle conditions.” [English United States Military Politics] [full cite] (Nov. 5, 2004)

back door draft n. One individual advised that he is being involuntarily recalled for placement in the Army Reserve, despite having been out of the Army for over two years. Apparently the referenced action is being taken because of the Army’s ongoing manning problems. I’m aware of the continuing liability for recall after separation, but among some of my correspondents the news that this “back door draft” is actually occurring was understandably greeted with surprise and concern. [English United States Military Politics] [full cite] (Nov. 5, 2004)

back door victory n. Still more fiendish is the strategy of “playing dead,” again supposedly being employed by the Conservatives. According to a series of pundits, Conservative leader Michael Howard has avoided saying directly in recent days that his party can defeat Blair’s Labour Party, the current clear favourites. By creating an atmosphere in which a Labour landslide is presumed, the theory goes, many Labour supporters will stay at home or lodge a protest vote against Blair, perhaps allowing the Conservatives to sneak a narrow win, the infamous “back door victory.” [English Politics] [full cite] (May. 5, 2005)

back-porch money n. That’s not to say street money doesn’t cause problems. For one thing, by the time it reaches ward leaders, it is cash. While some ward leaders are assiduous about keeping receipts and filing the necessary public reports, others aren’t. Indeed, some ward leaders have—surprise!—skimmed money before it reached the street. There is even a name for this, “back-porch money”—not enough to build a house, but enough to get yourself a nice new porch. [English Money & Finance Politics Jargon] [full cite] (Apr. 22, 2008)

backdoor draft n. That’s a draft…a backdoor draft. That’s compulsory military service…against the individual’s will. [English United States Military Politics] [full cite] (Nov. 5, 2004)

backlash insurance n. The concept of “backlash insurance,” by which politically vulnerable Republicans are given certain votes on which they are allowed to break ranks and pose as “moderates” before returning to the party line. [ Language English Register New or Nonce Subject Politics] [full cite] (Dec. 7, 2005)

balon n. Balon, Indonesian for “balloon,” is now jargon for referring to potential political candidates—perhaps an indication of the overinflated state of politics in a country heavily preoccupied with presidential and legislative elections this year. [Indonesia Politics Acronym] [full cite] (Aug. 30, 2004)

ban wagon n. Philadelphia wants to join the “ban wagon” as councilman proposes ban on foie gras. [English Politics] [full cite] (May. 24, 2006)

barbecue stopper n. Maybe if we’re lucky, there will be a religious nut who will stand as an independent and be a BBQ stopper for the Republican party. Nothing would please me more than seeing the Republican party split into factions resulting in around 35% support for GWB. [English Politics] [full cite] (Jan. 21, 2005)

barbecue stopper n. Is housing affordability the new barbeque stopper? After yesterday’s figures confirming that housing prices are getting further and further out of many people’s reach, moves are gathering pace to set up an inquiry into the issue. [English Australia Politics] [full cite] (Jan. 21, 2005)

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