O
O.J.-BY-THE-SEA, n. The media center at the Santa Monica
civil trial. Different from "Camp O.J.."the center at the criminal
trial. [Lingo used by journalists covering the O.J. Simpson Civil
Trial. Found in Newsweek]
P
PILTROL (registered tradename) n. A fabric/material which is
resistant to pilling. [clipped compound of "pilling" and "control"]
Context and source: "These coats are made with PiltrolR which
resists pilling on cuffs and waistband." (Land's End catalog)
PLUGGERS, n. Individuals leading a very nondescript and
mediocre life who nonetheless always put forth their best effort
and make do with the lot life has given out [noun formed form
verb plug ].
Content and source: "Pluggers prefer baseball caps over fancy
toupees and hair treatments." (Comic strip "Pluggers" in Ft.
Worth Star-Telegram, 10-13-96) "A plugger's barn or
workshed is almost always larger than his actual home."
(10-14-96)
POPAGANDA, n. Music that is popular with the general public,
and has purpose or is trying promote particular ideas. [Blend of
pop (clipping of popular) and propaganda]
Content and source: Title of a K.D. Lang album.
POOPER-SCOOPER, n. An instrument comprised of a
scooping device on a long pole used for the collection of animal
waste matter [rhyming compound formed from roots poop,
scoop, and suffix -er on each root].
Context and source: "I kind of dread going home for
Thanksgiving. The first thing my dad's going to do is hand me the
old pooper-scooper..." (Conversation)
POSTAL, adj. extremely hostile. [From the observation of
postal workers going insane and killing fellow co-workers.
Found most often in expressions go postal and get postal]
Context and source: Unable to cope, he got all postal.
POTUS/VPOTUS/FLOTUS, n. President of the United States,
Bill Clinton; Vice President of the United States, Al Gore; and
First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton, respectively
[acronyms].
Context and source: "Computer terminals all over the Executive
Mansion flash instantly with the precise movements of POTUS,
VPOTUS, and FLOTUS- code names for Bill, Hillary, and
Al..." (Gentleman's Quarterly, 11-96)
PROLLY, adv. Likely to happen, possibly occur. [elided
pronunciation of "probably." Assimilation of the "b"to an "l"]
Context and source: "I'm prolly going to the party tonight."
(Conversation)
PSYCHODRAMATIC, adj. very crazy (psychotic) and overly
dramatic. [blend of psychotic and dramatic]
Context and source: "Calm down. Stop being so
psychodramatic." (Conversation)
R
RETAIL ELEPHANT, n. A business that dominates or
monopolizes an area. [compound; metaphoric association with
the size of an elephant].
Context and Source: "... they are increasingly ambivalent about
retail elephants lumbering into their neighborhoods. "
(Newsweek 9/16/96).
ROAD RAGE, n. Aggressive driving habits often accompanied
by dehumanization of other drivers and somethimes resulting in
violence against other drivers. [Compound of road and rage]
Context and Source: "Two thirds of all highway deaths are
caused by road rage." (Discussion forum of Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel).
ROLLING, n. A dangerous activity popular with today's
delinquents which involves throwing sometimes heavy objects
from the back of a moving truck or vehicle [noun formed from
addition of pres. participle -ing suffix to verb roll ].
Context and source: "The youths were engaged in a dangerous
but increasingly popular new activity known as rolling..." (Fort
Worth Star-Telegram, 11-29-96)
RUBBER-CHICKEN CIRCUIT, n. The round of fund-raising
dinners attended by politicians. Refers to the standard
unappetizing, rubbery chicken served at such dinners.
[compound] (New York Times)