take a haircut
v. phr.— «When securities are used, the brokerage firm take a “haircut” on their value. This means that, for capital purposes, they are valued at somewhat less than their market prices. How much less is up to the stock exchange.» —“On Wall Street, Some Fail, All Worry” by Terry Robards New York Times Aug. 16, 1970. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
If you speak a second or third language, you may remember the first time you dreamed in that new tongue. But does this milestone mean you’re actually fluent? And a couple’s dispute over the word regret: Say you wish you’d been able...
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...