bang bang
n.— «The brave and dedicated men and women who risk their lives and well-being every moment that they are in a war zone are well aware of the phrase “watch your ass.” They wear helmets and body armor and are always looking over their shoulders. However, the number of news photographers who cover “bang, bang,” as it is known in the trade, are a small minority among the photographers in the business.» —“Watch Your Ass” by Dick Kraus Digital Journalist Aug. 7, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Ash in Huntsville, Alabama, wonders about the phrase all stove up, which is how his body feels after a long day’s work. It comes from the expression to stave in, meaning “to smash in,” as when something smashes in the staves of a barrel. This...
Sam in St. Charles, Illinois, says that when he mentioned a big old water tower nearby, his mother corrected him, saying the water tower wasn’t old, it was new. Can’t you use big old or big ol’ in that way? Of course you can! The...