biological supermarket
n.— «According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands are “among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.” The EPA’s website refers to them as “biological supermarkets,” due to the “great volumes of food that attract many animal species.”» —“Would-be builder says APA biologist ’ended our hopes’ for Tupper apartments” by Nathan Brown Adirondack Daily Enterprise (Saranac Lake, New York) Jan. 24, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
If someone’s got melon, it means they’re smart. The expression most likely arose because of the resemblance between a melon and a human head. Several other foods are associated with having brains, including a cabbage, a gourd, and even a...
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Biological Supermarket has also been used to refer to a sex partner whose past habits leave open the possibility of infection with an STD