cover
v.— «February 15 marks the start of the racehorse breeding season, where the leading equine Lotharios regularly put their human counterparts to shame. Weatherbys, the family-owned business responsible for registering every thoroughbred foal born in the UK and Ireland, has published its annual list of the top-performing stallions. Top is Oscar, who some might say deserves one, for “covering”—an industry euphemism—367 mares last year.» —“Top studs under starter’s orders” by Alistair Osborne Telegraph (United Kingdom) Feb. 15, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Wendy from Falls Church, Virginia, asks about a gesture corresponding to the exclamation Shame, shame! that involves scraping one index finger over the other, almost as if peeling a carrot. A German name for a similar gesture actually translates as...
The expression to turn on a dime means “to change quickly.” Early on the phrase referred to horses or horse-drawn vehicles and later to motorized ones, and suggested the idea of changing direction quickly and easily without needing a large turning...