bad dog
n.— «“Bad dog” means merchants who illegally sell tobacco. Good dog, of course, applies to merchants to who don’t take the bait.…the Attorney General’s Office will send letters to retailers, including those who sold cigarettes illegally and those who refused. The agents refer to them as “bad dog” and “good dog” letters.» —“Tobacco, Teens And The Attorney General’s Office” by Bill Coates Arizona Capitol Times (Phoeniz, Ariz.) July 18, 2005. (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...
“What has a head like a cat, feet like a cat, a tail like a cat, but isn’t a cat?” Answer: a kitten! A 1948 children’s joke book has lots of these to share with kids. Plus: an easy explanation for the difference between...