dollar-a-year man
n.— «Before his death in 1955, the Pictou-born man was one of the country’s top corporate lawyers, known for driving around the streets of Halifax in the city’s first Rolls-Royce limousine. During the Second World War, Mr. Stewart was in charge of the country’s coal supplies, working for the federal government as what was known as a dollar-a-year man.» —“A pioneer remembered” by Chris Lambie Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia) July 1, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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The expression to run the traps means “to perform due diligence” or “solicit a wide variety of opinions” or “investigate every angle thoroughly.” This metaphor derives from the literal sense of running the traps, which refers to hunting and fishing...