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)
NEW! Join us for our first online video event in support of the nonprofit that produces A Way with Words! Aug. 27, 2020. Get info. »»
Online Event August 27, 2020: Lemonade, Anyone? 08/04/2020: ... [more]
Cherry Bombs (episode #1551) 07/27/2020: An ornithologist says there's a growing movement to change the name of a pink-footed bird currently called the flesh-footed shearwater. The movement reflects a growing... [more]
Queen Bee (episode #1550) 07/13/2020: An artist asks strangers to write haiku about the pandemic and gets back poetic, poignant glimpses of life under lockdown. Plus, the new book Queenspotting... [more]
Navel-Gazing (episode #1549) 06/29/2020: In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited to write letters to the city's youngest readers,... [more]
Yak Shaving (episode #1548) 06/08/2020: There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin.... [more]
You must log in to post a comment.