A boodler is someone involved in political graft or corruption. The word likely derives from Dutch boedel, meaning “property.” This is part of a complete episode.
“A fish stinks from the head down.” When an Indianapolis woman is quoted saying that, she’s accused of calling someone a stinky fish. She says she wasn’t speaking literally, insisting that this is a turn of phrase that means...
milker bill n.— «politicians routinely submit legislative bills that would take money from various persons or groups, and then withdraw them once (constitutionally protected) payments are made. These bills go by different names. In...
yellow bird n.— «For another, ward leaders have been known to take street money from candidates, promise support and then not deliver. There is a name for this, too. These ward leaders are called “yellow birds,” after the old airline...
spang v. to beg for money. Also spange. Hence, spanger, a person who begs for money. Editorial Note: Rhymes with change or range. Etymological Note: Usually said to be a corruption of spare change. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)