grease copy
n.— «the Ginsu spots that he and Schiff collaborated on resonated and became part of pop culture precisely because they were absurd, recognized as camp at the time and parodied immediately (and for years after they first appeared). The opening line—“In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife . . . but this method doesn’t work with a tomato”—was an example of what Valenti calls “grease copy,” meant to grab viewers and slide them into the spot. “It was a startling interruption,” he says. “People took notice.”» —“Pointed Copy” by Rob Walker New York Times Dec. 31, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Sean in Oneonta, New York, says that when he was growing up in New Jersey, his family would pile in the car and set off on a surprise adventure, whether a short distance or long, and the kids would be told only that they were going on Buxtehude...