clean scanning n.— «Over the last year, a joint investigation of emissions inspection stations by the Attorney General’s Office and MassDEP, in coordination with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, found these stations were issuing passing inspection...
auto fraudo n.— «Democrats passed the Motor Voter law in 1993 (in the meeting I started hearing the old Republican name for it, “auto fraudo”), which permanently loosened the rules on mailed-in voter registration.» —“Been Caught Stealing” by David...
What do you call a word made from a blend of two other words, like motel from motor and hotel? A listener says his term for them is “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup words,” after the old commercial: “You got chocolate in my peanut butter! You got peanut...
container syndrome n.— «It’s a controversial theory, but a vocal contingent of doctors and physical therapists believe the strap-in chairs and carriers that millions of parents have come to rely on are contributing to an increase in cases of...
clock v.— «Prosecutor Christopher Batty said Butt bought high-mileage cars from motor auctions and had the mileages considerably reduced enabling him to sell the cars at an inflated price, a practice known as “clocking.” He said that between...
sweepspear n.— «Its styling, says GM interior design chief Dave Lyon, will feature modern interpretations of the Buick portholes (or “ventiports” as they were called in the “50s) and the “sweepspear,” the asymmetric v-shaped profile accent found on...