pig in a python
n.— «The intense pressure to raise money comes from various sources. One of the most important is the doubling of caucuses and primaries from nine to 18 in early March 1988-a series of post-Iowa and New Hampshire contests requiring extensive organization in 1987 and massive infusions of cash in late February 1988 through the first week of March. “It’s a pig in a python,” Atwater said.» —“Fund-Raising as Preoccupation; Early Advantage Becomes More Critical” by Thomas B. Edsall Washington Post Apr. 15, 1987. (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...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski says he and his fellow puzzlers often kibitz over familiar riddles, thinking up alternative answers. For example, the answer to “What month do people sleep the least?” is “February,” because that month...