asphalt jungle »
A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
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been to the rodeo »
Exposed to conmen and hucksters; experienced.
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big break »
A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.
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birds of the feather flock together »
People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.
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blow the whistle »
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
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blow this pop stand »
To exit or remove oneself from a less than exciting location or environment.
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borganism »
Some forms of government.
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bum rap »
A false accusation, or an injustice, especially one that leads to imprisonment.
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close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
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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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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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dog and pony show »
Originally, a small, traveling circus featuring animals as entertainment.
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dry eye »
An eye which is not crying, i.e. someone emotionally unmoved.
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fresh off the boat »
Newly arrived from a foreign place, especially as an immigrant who is still unfamiliar with the customs and language of his or her new environment.
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get out of Dodge »
To leave; in particular to leave a difficult or dangerous environment with all possible haste.
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go Dutch »
To pay for one's own food and bills, or split the cost, when eating at a restaurant or going out for entertainment.
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go native »
To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
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grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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green state »
A state that is, or is perceived as, environmentally friendly.
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greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
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hear the grass grow »
To hear very well due to being in an exceptionally quiet environment.
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hothouse »
An environment in which growth or development is encouraged; a hotbed.
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in the doghouse »
Unmarried and unlikely to marry.
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life of the party »
A person who participates in entertainment events in a very enthusiastic manner and who has a leading role in inspiring others to join in the spirit of festivity.
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lone gunman »
An individual person who acts on his or her own initiative, without partners, especially one who has sole responsibility for doing something questionable, confidential, or iniquitous.
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lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
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out of line »
Inappropriate or unsuitable, especially by reason of being unmannerly or indelicate.
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out of whack »
Not in proper alignment.
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outside world »
The rest of the world outside of some closed, restricted, or remote environment.
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painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
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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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paper »
A written document, generally shorter than a book , in particular one written for the Government.
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play Old Harry »
Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, "Greenmantle", 1916..
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pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
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shack up »
To live together, especially of an unmarried couple.
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socialized medicine »
An umbrella term for any system of government-run health care.
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stick it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
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the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get »
(vulgar) The sexual satisfactions that one receives from a spouse or romantic partner are not sufficient to compensate for the significant periods of bad faith and unpleasant treatment which such relationships routinely involve.1971, Allen Churchill, The Literary Decade, ISBN 9780135375228:Years later she expressed her disillusionment with sex by saying, "The fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."1999, Ben Sonnenberg, Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy, ISBN 9781582430454, p. 93:Maitland got drunk at his parties and threw his arm around you and pulled you over to his wife and made you look down her dress, saying, "The trouble with marriage is that the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."2008, Joseph Heywood, Blue Wolf In Green Fire, ISBN 9781599213590, p. 63:"I can't believe a little pussy got me into dis mess." "Shit happens," Service said. "Sometimes the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."
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the man »
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..
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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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tin god »
An individual that abuses or exceeds his authority over others, frequently in petty ways; for example a low-level manager in situational comedies and other entertainment.
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uncle sam »
the us government
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urban fabric »
The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.
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white coat hypertension »
Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.
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you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
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