microclimate
n.— «We didn’t expect to see what I call “microclimates” in spending. Historically, companies in Europe have spent one-third of what U.S. companies spent; U.S. companies were putting money out for innovation and historically spending more than European companies as a percentage of revenue. But now the U.S. economy has taken such a hit that Europeans are spending more. On a regional basis, we were surprised at the efficiency apparent in Asian companies’ technology spending.» —“When Bad News Is Actually Good” by Howard Rubin Optimize Magazine Dec., 2004. (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...
While reading Great Expectations (Bookshop|Amazon) by Charles Dickens, a listener in Arlington, Texas, is surprised when one of the characters inherits some money, which Dickens describes as a cool four thousand. Were they really using cool that way...