oil spot strategy n. a tactic in which a political or military organization secures an area to be used as a launch site for campaigns to other areas. Also oil spot theory. Editorial Note: Also known as the ink blot strategy. The French version of...
shoplisting n.— «In a tactic called “shoplisting,” a thief pays maybe $10 for an unexpired receipt covering $500 of electronics or clothing, shoplifts the listed items, and returns them for a refund or gift card. The cards can...
thunder run n.— «They were called Thunder Runs, high-speed gauntlet races by the mechanized infantry units of the army’s 1st Infantry Division along Highway 13, northwest of Saigon. The tactic was used to throw off the Viet Cong and North...
snakebite n.— «“It’s good coaching more than anything. What if the referee doesn’t call it? Keep doing it again. It’s not a foul unless the referees call it.…Every time I went to shoot, they were hitting me on my elbow.”...
gorilla dust n.— «When two male gorillas confront each other, they’re too canny most of the time to actually fight, so they resort to the tried-and-true political tactic of intimidation. Both scurry about in a frenzy, grimacing...
tip-on n.— «One tactic is the tip-on, a small paper square affixed to the cover that highlights an article of interest to readers in that area.» —“Special Promotions Boost Local Newsstand Sales” by Susan...