blue-out n.— «Nearly 40 percent of district teachers—3,500 employees—called in sick one day in September, prompting the early closure of six high schools and effectively crippling the district for the day. No organized action of that size...
mobile mourning n.— «Up to 90 youngsters with severe brain trauma come to live at Bloorview for rehabilitation, while another 40 or 50 with less severe injuries enter out-patient treatment annually. While they typically make some progress...
take-out-the-trash day n.— «Let’s cut the guy some slack that his great escape was announced on a Friday afternoon. (Known in government as “take-out-the-trash day” when particularly smelly news is dumped on reporters heading...
spin-out n.— «A “spin-out” from OLPC, the company, Pixel Qi is looking to create a $75 laptop and trying to advance low-cost computers and power-efficient laptops, mobile phones and other consumer electronics that are sunlight...
jump-out n.— «Finding winners at meetings restricted to horses from certain zones is hard yakka. Horses that haven’t been to the races for months. Horses that are racing out of their grades and over unsuitable distances. Horses that have...
big timber n.— «As recently as 10 years ago, it was possible for a pool player to earn a living hustling, provided he was armed with the requisite chops and disposition.…Odds were good that there was at least one unsuspecting local...
