bleed the beast
v. phr.— «In the polygamous community of Colorado City, a practice known as “bleeding the beast” is allegedly taking place. Activist for victims of Polygamy, Flora Jessop, who alerted authorities to the polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs’ move to Texas, says city officials are taking in large sums of federal money and then using that money to fund things that the government never intended to fund.» —“Jessop: Colorado City squandering federal funds” by Mike Watkiss KTVK-TV (Phoenix, Ariz.) Feb. 10, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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Chris in San Antonio, Texas, a professional musician, asks where the word gig comes from. While gig is now the standard term for a musical engagement and has broadened to any short-term job, its early origins are murky. It may be related to the term...