al-in-chgo's definitions

Verschlusspanik

Verschlusspanik (fair-SCHLOOSE-pah-neek) is a German word that literally means "closing panic." It refers to the rush of new investors (and new capital) into consumer investments like mutual funds that occurs when the sponsoring financial house announces that its fund will no longer accept new accounts beyond a certain date. That "last-minute" stampede is due to Verschlusspanik on the part of potential investors who do not want to be shut out of the fund.

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"Go figure -- Fund XYZ announces that it won't open any new accounts past the end of this month, and all of a sudden there's a huge influx of new investors and their money."

"That's called 'Verschlusspanik'. It often happens when there's a deadline for new accounts imposed."

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by al-in-chgo March 24, 2010

virgule

Typesetter's name for a "regular" (pre-computer-era) slash mark (/) that associates related terms. On computer QWERTY keyboards, commonly found to the right of the key for a period. The virgule key + shift indicates a question mark.

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Here's one use of the virgule: Most of the audience found the play racy/dirty, not just racy.

by al-in-chgo March 3, 2010

jockstrap-sniffers

A disparaging way to refer to the type of sports fan, most obvious at the collegiate level, who likes to get a little too close to the players, especially after the game.

Euphemistic synonym: "Rabid fans."

"Before we conduct any interviews, it's a good idea to let the jockstrap-sniffers storm through here. Then we'll shoo them out and get down to business."

by al-in-chgo May 24, 2018

Clappertrap

Bleats of wounded outrage in a tone of arrogant moral superiority from those who have trashed our civil liberties.

Named for James Clapper, head of NSA.

"The President says we weren't informed that our phone records were secretly being turned over to the FBI because we didn't need to know."

"What utter Clappertrap."

by al-in-chgo June 7, 2013

controversial

1. Tending to provoke or cause controversy by its nature.

2. A cliche the media use to add intrigue or entertainment value to a cultural manifestation or event that is singularly lacking in zest or inherent fascination.

3. Proceeding from 2., sometimes a semiotic code word used by the media to indicate osentible deviance, such as being homosexual or homosexuality, implying (perhaps unwittingly) that the event or person(s) at hand have a lurid background by definition.

1. "It seems that abortion is controversial no matter what a person says about it."

2. "Today we're going to interview Dr. Judah Wellness, whose new book THINK YOURSELF THINNER has become quite controversial."

3. "The TV color commentators keep calling that figure-skater controversial, but where's the controversy? He himself is quite open about being gay and doesn't seem to have a problem with it. I mean, everyone he knows, knows that he's gay."

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"I agree, the use of "controversial" just seems a way to add spice; especially since coming out of the closet hasn't hurt him or his career. What is so sad is that so often, the media people are usually very au courant and sophisticated, and know darn well when they are using that tag in a hypocritical way."

by al-in-chgo February 21, 2010

kibble

(From the meat-like chunks given to pets): Something nearly worthless or valueless.

He doesn't know what he's saying and just talks a lot of kibble.

by al-in-chgo March 28, 2022

lip fur

A man's mustache.

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"The model Jeff York has some of the nicest lip fur I've ever seen."

"Yeah, John Stossel's is pretty great, too."

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by al-in-chgo March 13, 2010