Train Whistle — the new “dog whistle”. The current idiom “saying the quiet part out loud” points to the idea that a new term must be used to discuss impolite political discourse. Dogs can her at a frequency that humans cannot; so, the old idiom “dog whistle” pointed to a subtle statement.
Well, in 2023, both irony and subtlety are dead hence the new term “Train Whistle. If you can’t hear you are deaf.
Visiting insurrection prisoners on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Waco Texas standoff; scheduling a Republican Presidential rally in Waco Texas on the anniversary; and Trump’s proclamation that he is “THE RETRIBUTION” of the Republican Party and MAGA; Trump’s threatening doom and destruction if indicted — this — collectively — isn’t a dog whistle it’s a Train Whistle.
It’s in your face; and, there is no more “quite part” to say out loud. IT’S ALL OUT LOUD IN THE RANGE OF HUMAN HEARING!!!!!!
A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.
For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!