lid n.— «And they give out a “Lid of the Month” award—part honor, part joke, it is a wooden commode seat, which when lifted reveals a mirror and the engraved call signs of past recipients. “Lid” is a term for a...
headache bar n.— «Keeping larger vehicles, such as trucks and vans, out of the hourly lots by means of the headache bar.» —“Airtight Security Creates Minor Annoyances” by Thomas Hackett in Morrisville News &...
red light fever n.— «Red light fever is racing through the General Assembly. Officials in seven cities, including Wilmington, want to follow the lead of Charlotte and nab drivers who run red lights by photographing them in the act...
comp n.— «In the real-estate industry, they’re known as “comps,” which is short for comparables. If you’re thinking about selling your home or refinancing it, you find comparable homes in your neighborhood that recently sold...
farming one’s insurance n.— «Other growers and government officials said some of the farmers who started growing sweet potatoes had never grown them before. Others planted in areas known to be wet. Still others didn’t take care of their...
schnitting n.— «Archeologists use a flat-bottomed shovel to shave exposed layers of earth in the squares, to make a clean edge across the surface, and to keep it fairly level. The process is called “schnitting,”according to...