spinning n.— «Handing out chunky pieces of a hot IPO has led to trouble in other markets. Several years ago, U.S. regulators cracked down on a practice known as spinning, in which investment banks steered hot IPO shares to preferred...
lobster n.— «Most journalists loathe lobsters. No, not the succulent crustaceans served with melted butter. “Lobsters” is the pejorative term many reporters use for lobbyists.…To the media elite, “lobsters” represent the antithesis...
BFO n.— «My response to Mr. Chapman and the learned elite at the American Academy: B—F—O. That acronym stands for “Blinding Flash of the Obvious.”» —“Steve Chapman’s Testimonial For Germany” by...
lollerskates interj. used to express laughter or hilarity, although often used ironically or satirically in emulation of people who overuse acronyms, chatspeak, emoticons, or elite-speak. Editorial Note: This term is usually used only online. The...
al mudbakh n.— «The real action was taking place in al mudbakh—the kitchen—a euphemism for the elite group of perhaps 12 party leaders and aides who huddled behind doors that were closed even to the members of the committee drafting the...
half-past-six adj.— «The fairer elite (those who are descended from Europeans) are known as “the upper 10.” At the other extreme are the Portuguese-Eurasians with Malaccan roots who belong to the “half-past six” or...