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system of checks and balances

Refers to a totally-legal but still-somewhat-devious practice of writing personal checks for comparatively-minuscule bills --- like maybe just two or three bucks for a bag of fresh vegetables from a roadside farm-stand --- instead of paying them in cash, and then secretly hoping that the checks’ recipients will not want to bother going to the extra effort of cashing said “tiny” checks, and thus your bank-account’s “balance” will be unaffected by your purchases.
Practicing the “system of checks and balances” can have varying degrees of success, depending on various factors, such as how strapped your checks’ recipients are for cash, how accustomed they are to cashing/depositing checks, or how willing/able they are to accept checks, especially for such paltry amounts (here’s where paying with checks at an unattended “drop the money in the slot” or “place the money in the cup/jar” merchandise-stand can be a good idea, since there will be nobody there to balk at your paying with a check). Extra points if you “embellish” the checks with flowery praising messages about how wonderful the sellers’ merchandise/service is, since it may stroke the people’s ego so much that they will prefer to “frame it rather than cash it” (again, especially since the check is for such a small amount, and so its value might likely not mean all that much to the person’s overall budget) when deciding what to do with your checks.
by QuacksO September 9, 2018
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"checks and balances" system

A form of government-operation whereby you are guaranteed "level" or "fair overall" treatment if you are generous with your "checks" to bribe local/state/federal officials, or if you are sufficiently rich (i.e., you have a large enough "balance" in da bank) that said officials feel obliged to make special allowances for you.
We may ostensibly have a "checks and balances" system, but it never seems to help out "da little guy" very much.
by QuacksO January 1, 2019
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Gustavio's balanced self

Gustavio's balanced self is really helpful. I do appreciate that. I never tell him enough. I never do many things enough. But this is about Gustavio. His balanced self.
Thank you, Gustavio's balanced self, for being there. Better late than never. Better digital than nothing at all.

Gustavio's balanced self, I still have so much work to do. Scary when I think of it. Coffee?
by Krkič January 20, 2019
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A little off balance

this means sick basically but it’s only used by those who don’t like the word “sick”.
Betty: Hey Sally, how you feeling?

Sally: I’m a little off balance.
by yourdadaeeeeee March 13, 2019
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You have a zero balance

A statement that always brings a really nice sens of relief to see/hear when checking/inquiring about your account-status.
"You have a zero balance" is comparably welcome to seeing that delightful little word "approved" pop up on the LCD display of a store's card-scanner, informing you that your debit/Food Stamps card didn't have a problem processing your purchases that time.
by QuacksO April 1, 2019
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To fair-and-balance

To engage in practices that result in fair and balanced news reporting.
After news reported that 1.5 million liberals marched on DC, Fox News to fair-and-balance 'd it by polling 100 CEOs.
by talkity talk July 25, 2020
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CHEMICALLY OFF BALANCED

That feeling you get when that pussy done fucked you up and left you questioning all the other pussy you've had
by Weird Red November 23, 2021
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