goldfishing n.— «The day I am in the studio, the report on the opposition’s activities features just one politician talking in an interview. But you don’t hear his words. He is, in TV parlance, goldfishing: you can see his lips move but...
half-tour Harry n.— «They’ve got a difficult decision to make. But if he does come home, he’s only three months in to a sixth-month tour. There is that term for someone who doesn’t last his full time—‘half-tour Harry”—and if he does...
spaghetti tag n.— «The Alaska Department of Fish and Game tagged the shark Foy caught with what is known as a spaghetti tag in Prince William Sound in 1999. She is No. 990432 and was tagged with about 230 other sharks that year...
fart in a mitten n.— «Many, many thanks (personal to follow) to all who helped me clarify a list of potential sayings for my Prince Edward Island collection.…busy as a fart in a mitten.» —“Offensive sayings ‘from’...
fart in a mitten n.— «I could not bear to cut any of this out, you did a helluva good job and because the whole god damned thing started over a fart in a mitten made by me I can truthfully confirm that you have the meat of the situation...
chemical cosh n.— «Treatments of mental and physical illnesses were spiritual tasks, not merely matters for medical repair, the prince said. Psychiatrists should resort less often to the “chemical cosh” of drugs.» —“How a...