catfish amendment
n.— «The exact day the first North Carolina politician hooked his thumbs in his suspenders and referred to a “catfish amendment” is probably lost to history.…The term refers to a proposed change on a bill that sounds friendly but is actually a sly attempt to kill it. Usually, that’s by adding a provision that would turn off supporters or make the law vastly more expensive.…“There was always some guy getting up talking about a catfish amendment,” he said. “But Cutlar was the one who got the most mileage out of it.” Over time, the joke was forgotten, but the term stuck around, and not just in North Carolina. Lobbyists in Georgia use the word “catfishing” to describe their attempts to load up a bill with killer amendments. One lobbyist is known by the nickname “Catfish” for his ability to do so.» —“‘Catfish amendment’ phrase caught on” by Ryan Teague Beckwith News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) July 5, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The adjectives canine and feline refer to dogs and cats. But how does English address other groups of animals? Plus, cabin fever has been around much longer than the current pandemic. That restless, antsy, stir-crazy feeling goes back to the days...
John in Omaha, Nebraska, wonders about a phrase that encourages someone to attend an event or risk being left out or feeling uncool: be there or be square. Don’t fall for the fake etymology about people wearing boxes on their heads! Ditto for...