TagDispatch

lily pad

lily pad  n.— «McPhillips described the operation as “building an air bridge” to the Mideast, with stops at “lily pads along the way” in addition to aerial refueling.» —“Buildup Order Kicks Air Base Into High Gear” by Robert Goodrich St. Louis Post...

grill

grill  n.— «“One of my friends, every tooth in his mouth is gold, every one of them.”…In hip-hop parlance, they are called “grills” and “fronts” – a fashion statement and a state of mind where the more the merrier and the gaudier the better...

front

front  n.— «“One of my friends, every tooth in his mouth is gold, every one of them.”…In hip-hop parlance, they are called “grills” and “fronts” – a fashion statement and a state of mind where the more the merrier and the gaudier the better...

thumper

thumper  n.— «That banger’s thumper is a double-deuce, and he packs a gauge. Translation: That gang member’s pistol is a .22, and he carries a shotgun.» —“Gang Slang Police Compile New Glossary Of Street Talk” by Peter Hernon St. Louis Post...

smurfing

smurfing  n.— «Missourians had been caught in Illinois on several occasions “smurfing”—that is, buying anhydrous ammonia, iodine crystals, ether and other ingredients from various sources, far from their labs, to avoid raising suspicion.» —“Illinois...

submarine patent

submarine patent  n.— «A man fought with the Patent Office for 15 years while lots of different laser products were being developed. Eventually, makers of laser products were forced to pay him. “We call those “submarine patents,” Nickey said. “When...