Double-Tongued Dictionary Recent Citations

Citation Queue These are recently added citations for catchwords that have not yet been researched or incorporated into a full dictionary entry. There is also a date-sorted archive which includes all citations, whether used in a full entry or not, as well as the full entries themselves.

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dusty foot n. Most head north along the same routes that Mexicans and Central Americans have long taken in their attempts to get to the US. Yet unlike other immigrants, Cubans simply walk across the US border and apply for residency: under the “wet foot, dry foot” policy, those caught in US waters are sent home, while those who reach land are usually allowed to stay. It’s become so common that it’s garnered a new phrase: “dusty foot.” But now, under the new policy between Cuba and Mexico, the majority could be repatriated home, says Molina Rios. (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

rag the puck v. phr. Most of the time was consumed by arguments about scheduling of the actual trial. The prosecution accused the defense of what, in hockey parlance, is called “ragging the puck”: stalling until the game is over. (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

biscuit belt n. Well the area of the country that I practice in Gastonia North Carolina is what some physicians refer to euphemistically is the biscuit belt. We have a problem with patients being overweight. (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

midnight rule making n. Anticipating an end-of-administration rush to churn out hundreds of regulations—a practice known as “midnight rule making”—the White House counseled agencies to restrain themselves. “We need to continue [our] principled approach to regulation as we sprint to the finish, and resist the historical temptation of administrations to increase regulatory activity in their final months.” (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

checkbook charity n. During good times, our donors have set aside significant charitable dollars, and now are able to tap those funds when they are needed most.…It demonstrates how donor advised funds can help people go beyond “checkbook charity” and become more strategic citizen philanthropists. (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

phone boot n. In Abuja, the national capital, both the sidewalk phone boot operators and charge card dealers are facing a new challenge from the city’s environmental pollution squads. The city environment watchdogs regard these young independent entrepreneurs—with their makeshift phone boots at various street corners and daring dashing through traffic—as nuisances. Frequent raids by the watchdogs add a new element of difficulty in the lives of these entrepreneurs. (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

wine track n. That’s because Maryland, said Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science at University of Maryland Baltimore County, has become a “wine track” state, similar to California, New Jersey and Connecticut, where incomes are high, people are well-educated and the electorate is less concerned about race. (He distinguishes Maryland from “beer track” states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.) (Nov. 9, 2008) [full citation…]

Outside n. One tough lesson she said she learned Outside, as Alaskans often call the rest of the country: the media is not always fair. (Nov. 6, 2008) [full citation…]

handkerchief head n. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, told Harold Ickes, “You don’t understand what it’s like. We get called “house Negro” and “handkerchief head” by our constituents because we’re supporting Hillary.” (Nov. 6, 2008) [full citation…]

have fingertips v. phr. He had no fingertips as a politician and came off as a phony, even when he was perfectly sincere. (Nov. 6, 2008) [full citation…]

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