absentee lobbying
n.— «Dustin McDaniel’s bid to ban “absentee lobbying” raises a question: How often do lobbyists pay for lawmakers” food and drinks without attending the event? Many lawmakers and lobbyists say they’re not sure. Some suggest it doesn’t happen. One lawmaker privately wondered whether talk that certain lawmakers ate at Little Rock” most expensive restaurants with lobbyists” credit cards was “an urban myth.” […] “I know there have been instances where people have said, “You all go down to Doe’s [a Little Rock eatery] or somewhere, and I’ll call ahead and make arrangements and I’ll be down there,” and they come in towards the end or something.”» —“Bill targets lobbyists who pay and run” by Michael R. Wickline Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Fayetteville, Arkansas) Mar. 28, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Eels, orts, and Wordle! Sweden awarded its most prestigious literary award to a book about…eels. The Book of Eels reveals the mysterious life cycle of this sea creature and its significance for famous figures from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Plus...
Colin from Los Angeles, California, is pondering the expression make no bones about it, which suggests the speaker is talking or acting with no hesitation whatsoever. The saying is inspired by the idea of literally finding bones in one’s food, since...