blood diamond
n.— «The international diamond industry sought to put the sparkle back into its image Wednesday, adopting strict new measures to stop rebel groups who trade gems for guns to fight some of Africa’s most vicious civil wars.…The industry promised severe penalties for dealers who break the rules and buy or sell so-called “blood diamonds.”» —“New Rules Target ‘Blood Diamonds’” by Antwerp, Netherlands CBS News July 19, 2000. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Mary Beth in Greenville, South Carolina, wonders: Why do we say four-oh-nine for the number 409 instead of four-zero-nine or four-aught-nine? What are the rules for saying either zero or oh or aught or ought to indicate that arithmetical symbol...
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
I’m pretty sure this phrase was used on a History Channel show too…my guess is “Modern Marvels: Diamond Mining” but I can’t really remember.