flash over
v. phr.— «Other vehicles show the effects of time—that shops had hidden with a fresh coat of paint, Suggs said. The industry calls the practice “flashing over,” making the car worth far less.» —“Cars get new bodies, people get new spirit” by Al Greenwood Fayetteville Observer (North Carolina) Jan. 10, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Brian from Lafayette, Indiana, wonders why chicken is abbreviated CHX in the restaurant industry. Using X as a substitute or shortener has a long history. Medieval scribes sometimes drew a line through the final stroke of an abbreviated word. This...
It’s the ultimate road trip: A father and son retrace the journey of Odysseus and find a way to navigate their relationship. Plus, the story behind the phrase a flash in the pan: It has nothing to do with cooking or gold mining. Also, what’s a...