dusty foot
n.— «Most head north along the same routes that Mexicans and Central Americans have long taken in their attempts to get to the US. Yet unlike other immigrants, Cubans simply walk across the US border and apply for residency: under the “wet foot, dry foot” policy, those caught in US waters are sent home, while those who reach land are usually allowed to stay. It’s become so common that it’s garnered a new phrase: “dusty foot.” But now, under the new policy between Cuba and Mexico, the majority could be repatriated home, says Molina Rios.» —“New Cuban escape route: via Mexico” by Sara Miller Llana Christian Science Monitor (Boston, Massachusetts) Nov. 5, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The new Downton Abbey movie is a luscious treat for fans of the public-television period piece, but how accurate is the script when it comes to the vocabulary of the early 20th century? It may be jarring to hear the word swag, but it was already at...
“What has a head like a cat, feet like a cat, a tail like a cat, but isn’t a cat?” Answer: a kitten! A 1948 children’s joke book has lots of these to share with kids. Plus: an easy explanation for the difference between...