helicopter research
n.— «I made them a promise that we weren’t going to practice what is known as “helicopter research,” where you go into a community, get your research data, publish a paper and walk away.» —“Two hospitals work with Senecas” by Don Glynn Niagara Gazette (New York) Apr. 11, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
If you speak a second or third language, you may remember the first time you dreamed in that new tongue. But does this milestone mean you’re actually fluent? And a couple’s dispute over the word regret: Say you wish you’d been able...
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...