ale post »
A maypole.
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angle for »
To try to obtain something by subtle indirect means. Political manoeuvres, suggestion, etc.
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badge bunny »
A woman who is romantically attracted to police officers and who seeks out their companionship.
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best regards »
Used as a polite closing of a letter.
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caucus race »
A political competition; the game of campaigning and one-upmanship to get votes and be elected.
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caucus race »
The competitive process in which a political party selects their candidate, esp. presidential; a primary election via caucus.
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circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
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clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
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corner the market »
To monopolize a resource or commodity, as with the intent of driving up prices.
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cross the aisle »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
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cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
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cross the floor »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
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cross the floor »
To vote against one's own political party in parliament.
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crying shame »
It's a crying shame that so much money has been wasted on this pointless political campaign.
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devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
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diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
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dismal science »
Nickname for economics or for the field of political economy.
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divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
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double talk »
Lying, especially in a formal political statement.
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drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
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eat humble pie »
To admit one's faults; to make a humiliating apology.
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emperor's new clothes »
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
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first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
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flutter in the dovecote »
I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.
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fox in the henhouse »
A relationships wherein a predator is granted free reign within the prey's home confinement, often used in the political sense.
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give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
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grass roots »
People and society at the local level rather than at the national centre of political activity.
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gunboat diplomacy »
The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.
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hat in hand »
With humility; in an apologetic or self-effacing fashion.
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have a seat »
A polite directive to sit down.
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hic Rhodus, hic salta »
(politics) Prove what you can do, here and now.
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hold someone's feet to the fire »
To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone in order to induce him or her to comply with one's desires; to hold someone accountable for his or her actions.
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honesty is the best policy »
Honesty is the most honorable and fulfilling way to live one's life.
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it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
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jack of all trades, master of none »
A master of integration, who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner; a polymath; a renaissance man.
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knock up »
In the morning as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also knocker up.
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ladies first »
A phrase encouraging polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men.
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long arm »
A pole tool used for handling things too far away to reach.
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Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
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middle of the road »
Having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.
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mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
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no comment »
A refusal to say the obvious impolite retort.
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not to put too fine a point on it »
Used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce , The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce, The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Vol. 8.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Francis Lynde, The Quickening.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To approach something or someone.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
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ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
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palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
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pardon me »
Polite expression to get someone to repeat.
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pardon me »
Sorry; said as an apology.
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perp walk »
The intentional public display before news cameras of someone in police custody, especially someone famous or notorious, for the purpose of satisfying public interest, demonstrating the authorities' effectiveness, or shaming the person.
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play hardball »
To act rough and ruthless, especially in politics or business.
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polish off »
Or liquor.
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polish off »
To remove by polishing .
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polo shirt »
garment
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press the flesh »
To shake hands and socialize, especially in a political gathering.
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rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
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rough and ready »
Crude or unpolished, but still fit for use; good enough.
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rubber-chicken dinner »
A formal dinner or event thrown by politicians to raise funds.
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run for »
To try to obtain political position through the democratic voting process.
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run for office »
To seek political power.
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run something up the flagpole »
To float an idea that one suspects might be controversial.
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run up »
To bring a flag to the top of it's flag pole.
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show the flag »
Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its country of origin, especially in order to establish an authoritative presence and to exert diplomatic or political influence.
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sleeping policeman »
A speed bump.
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slippery as an eel »
So crafty, or cunning that they cannot be caught by the police, although it is known that they are acting illegally.
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socialized medicine »
A politically charged term used to contrast such systems with free market alternatives and emphasize the perceived link to socialism.
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spit-and-polish »
Paying much attention to outward appearance.
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strange bedfellows »
An unusual combination or political alliance.
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straw poll »
A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc.
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take the Michael »
Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.
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ten foot pole »
See not touch something with a ten foot pole.
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think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
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throw dirt enough, and some will stick »
If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say
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too hot to hold »
A place that has too much police activity to harbor a fugitive unnoticed.
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touch with a barge pole »
Get romantically involved with.
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truth be told »
Used when admitting something one might otherwise lie about, e.g. to keep up appearances or be polite.
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vice squad »
police department
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wear off »
To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.
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whistle-stop train tour »
A tour in a political campaign that makes many brief stops in small communities.
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wooden-top »
Uniformed police officers.
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you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar »
It's easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude than with rude demands and negativity.
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you can't polish a turd »
(vulgar) Something inherently bad cannot be improved.
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you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
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yours sincerely »
A polite formula to end a letter, especially when the recipient’s name is known to the sender.
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