throw red meat
v.— «The gay-marriage issue could create a minor sideshow to Kerry’s formal nomination and keep the conservative Republican base energized during a time when the national political spotlight will be on Kerry, not Bush. Congressional aides have referred to it as throwing “red meat” to the base.» —“Senate debates gay marriage ban this week” by Stephen Koff Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) July 11, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Cat hair may be something you brush off, but cat hair is also a slang term that means “money.” In the same way, cat beer isn’t alcoholic — some people use cat beer as a joking term for “milk.” And imagine walking on a...
There are eight major planets, but more than a million minor ones, including asteroids. If you discover one, you get the honor of naming it. The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names includes minor planets named for rock bands, jazz musicians, poets, and...