air supply
n.— «Although petty corruption is rampant in the civil service, Ruzindana has focused on the big fish—senior officials motivated less by need than greed. His target is the booming and notorious Ugandan enterprise known here as “air supply.” Translation: fraud. “It means you supply nothing, and yet you are paid,” said Ruzindana.» —“Graft, Corruption Hobble Uganda’s Comeback Efforts” by Mary Battiata in Kampala, Uganda San Francisco Chronicle (California) July 27, 1988. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...