Jeff in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, asks about muldoon, a word particular to Baltimore politics, with a wide variety of meanings. Muldoon may well have Irish roots, as it is an Irish name. Baltimore columnist Frank Kent popularized it as a term for someone with a large extended family or organization and the ability to deliver a substantial number of votes, and thus be a reliable, productive member of the local political machine. This is part of a complete episode.
In the 1970s, talk-show host Johnny Carson had a recurring bit where he’d declare, “It was so cold…” to which the audience would respond, “How cold was it?” Carson always offered a goofy response, such as “It was so cold the ice cubes were wearing...
Lindsay in San Diego, California, says some of her younger coworkers use the phrase out of pocket to mean “unavailable,” but she’s also heard it used to mean “acting out of line.” The meaning of this phrase usually involves one of three things...
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