Chechen ambush n.— «The insurgents had hoped to spring what is called a Chechen ambush. The strategy, Marines determined later, was to wound Marines attempting to enter the building. When other Marines came to help, an insurgent sniper...
sandbagging n.— «“Cars that catch fire,” he says, “will be allowed to continue at the officials’ discretion. Rollovers are okay. Now go out there and make good hits. No love taps, and no sandbagging.” What Todd calls...
circuit-breaker law n.— «The circuit-breaker law calls for 75 percent state reimbursement of the amount of money it costs to educate a student minus the $29,320. For example, subtracting the $29,320 from a total cost of $100,000 means the...
compost tea n.— «Applications of a manure or compost “tea” every week or so, once the stems have begun to bulb out, helps a lot. Put a couple of shovelfuls of manure or compost in a burlap bag and let is soak in several...
combat fashion n.— «Just after dawn, more than 75 police cars race to Times Square, lights flashing, then converge in what’s called “combat fashion.” Each backs halfway onto the sidewalk in a daunting show of municipal muscle...
H-bomb n.— «H-Bomb: 1. The process of revealing to others that you attend Harvard University. Usage: “Last night was our second date and I dropped the H-Bomb. Then she dumped me.”» —“Harvardisms: Learning The Lingo” in...