oikodomophobia
n.— «A new term has been coined to describe the condition which leaves millions of people in fear of dealing with cowboy tradesmen—oikodomophobia. Six in 10 people claim to suffer from the condition when forced to negotiate with plumbers, builders and roofers for a job on their property.» —“Fear of rogue tradesmen” Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland) Mar. 9, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Secret signals on the job: Waitresses at some 19th-century restaurants ensured speedy drink service by communicating with a non-verbal code. One server took orders, then placed each customer’s cup to indicate exactly what the customer wanted...
Book recommendations, including a collection of short stories inspired by dictionaries, and a techno-thriller for teens. Or, how about novels with an upbeat message? Publishers call this genre up lit. Plus, a clergyman ponders an arresting phrase in...