take a walk
v. phr.— «These scores include votes cast and non-votes by members present at the time the vote was cast. This practice, known as “taking a walk” is a ploy some lawmakers use to avoid a recorded vote while actually affecting the outcome of legislation.» —“Consumer Federation of California Releases 2008 Scorecard for Legislators” by Richard Holober California Progress Report (Oakland) Dec. 12, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Sneaky contract lingo, advice for writing well, and preserving a dying language. Say you’re scrolling through an online transaction where you’re asked to read the “Terms and Conditions.” Do you actually read them or just check the box and move on...
A Madison, Wisconsin, caller says his father will eat an apple down to the core, then call out “Apple core, Baltimore! Who’s your friend?” and if the person doesn’t answer fast enough, his dad will throw the core at him. This game, and variations of...