big mother
n.— «Later, looking through the transcribed notes of the interview, I note two phrases used by the Premier: “big brother federal Government” and “big mother central Canada” (at least he has kept it familial). His comments belie a genuine resentment toward the central authority.» —“Genuine suspicion of the central axis” by Barbara Yaffe Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada) July 17, 1980. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Aubrey in Waco, Texas, says her mother used to warn the kids against contracting honkus of the bonkus, a fanciful name for a contagious disease. This colloquial term probably comes from the words bonk and konk, meaning “to hit” or...
Lucy in Louisa, Virginia, recalls that if her mother was exasperated when the kids were misbehaving, she’d announce I’m going to put you both in a wet paper bag and see who falls out first! This is part of a complete episode.
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