verbal gratuity
n.— «What do all servers fear? It’s the dreaded “verbal gratuity,” by which customers hope to balance a lousy tip with effusive praise.» —“Here’s taste of often unsavory business of waiting tables” by Howard Seftel Arizona Republic (Phoenix) Oct. 19, 2005. (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...
Have you ever googled your own name and found someone else who goes by the very same moniker? There’s a word for that: googleganger. Plus, the language of hobbyists and enthusiasts: If you’re a beekeeper, perhaps you call yourself a...