rondo n. Mudd’s latest real estate entry discusses the merits and rising popularity of “rondos”—industry slang for rental apartments that are being converted to condos. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Feb. 27, 2005)
rondo n. Rondos are condominium units, typically in higher-end buildings, that have been converted from rental apartments. [EnglishArchitecture] [full cite] (Feb. 27, 2005)
roofing square n. “I’m at the point where I need to stay in shape to maintain a certain output, workwise,” said Mr. Entrekin, 51. “When I was in my prime, I could nail 14 squares a day. Now I’m happy with 6.” (One roofing square is equal to 100 square feet.) [EnglishConstruction & BuildingsJargon] [full cite] (Oct. 26, 2006)
roofless adj. Landless peasants have organized in Brazil and Bolivia, and Brazil also has a “roofless” movement of people with inadequate or no housing. Consumer rights organizations have sprung up in a variety of countries, with Chile at the epicenter. [BrazilArchitecturePolitics] [full cite] (May. 12, 2004)
rook-out v. Amy Weldon is what’s called a rook-out, a first-year rookie who’s aging out of the corps. She says her first—and last year—has offered her memories that will last a lifetime. [English] [full cite] (Aug. 14, 2006)
rookie shock n. So when they get in, they won’t have what I call “rookie shock” or “crowd shock.” They don’t get in front of sixty, seventy thousand people and (pee) down their leg. [EnglishSports & Recreation] [full cite] (Sep. 14, 2005)
rookie tattoo n. Fred: Newbie. Somebody who doesn’t follow racing, doesn’t care about cycling fashion or technology. Often identified by chain-ring marks on white socks, also known as “rookie tattoos.” [EnglishSports & Recreation] [full cite] (Jul. 4, 2005)
rookie wall n. We’re showing good maturity out of the young guys.…They got over the wall. The rookie wall hits around week nine or 10 and you see some guys start to fade a little bit mentally. They’ve persevered through it and now that they’re on the other side of it, they’re improving. [EnglishSports & Recreation] [full cite] (Nov. 27, 2007)
room-service story n. First, Carl Pavano enclosed himself in a small office in the Legends Field home clubhouse Friday, and a few minutes later, at 12:57, Mike Mussina joined his estranged teammate. And that is what people in the media business refer to as a “room-service story.” They emerged 11 minutes later, both smiling, neither with any apparent bruises or cuts, and imagine this: The meeting might have accomplished some good. [EnglishMediaSports & RecreationNew or Nonce] [full cite] (Feb. 19, 2007)
Root Canal Republicans n. Root Canal Republicans are led by Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan) and House Minority leader Bob Michel (R-Ill). The Root Canal Republicans want to balance the budget by spending cuts across the board and put forth a generally uninspiring view of passive government. The major asset of Root Canal traditionalists: Tremendous influence in the corridors of power in Washington. [EnglishUnited StatesPolitics] [full cite] (Jan. 1, 2005)