welcome stranger
n.— «The lawsuit charges that through three reassessments, the former town assessor, Kathlyn Stanley, illegally raised her taxes to a level far above that of similar properties. It also charges that the town retaliated against her for challenging assessments. The suit says the town engaged in a practice sometimes called “welcome stranger” or “welcome improver,” targeting homes with new owners or that have been improved while leaving the assessments of similar homes unchanged.» —“North Salem woman whose assessment skyrocketed sues in federal court” by Elizabeth Ganga Journal News (West Harrison, New York) Dec. 21, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Is there something inherent in English that makes it the linguistic equivalent of the Borg, dominating and consuming other languages in its path? No, not at all. The answer lies with politics and conquest rather than language itself. Plus: a new...
If you’re ever near a sundial, step closer and look for a message. Many sundials bear haunting, poetic inscriptions about the brevity of life. Plus, language development in toddlers: why and how little ones pick up the exclamation Uh-oh! And a...