POLITICS
ADJECTIVES
M16. ► DOVISH in politics: inclined to advocate negotiation and conciliation
1776 ► ROCK-RIBBED resolute, uncompromising, esp. in political allegiance
M19. ► RED communist, socialist, left-wing → sl.
1927 ► PINK said of one who holds left-of-centre views → sl., derogatory
1936 ► PINKO holding left-of-centre or mildly Communist views → sl., derogatory
1938 ► BLIMPISH having reactionary views → sl., derogatory
1970 ► RIGHT-ON used approvingly to denote one of politically progressive views → sl., orig. US
1995 ► JUICED IN enjoying powerful political connections → US sl.
NOUNS
M17. ► CABAL a political clique; a faction
1815 ► THE BOYS in the 19th century, corrupt politicians or their hangers-on → Amer. sl.
1816 ► BACKSET a reversal in one’s personal or political affairs → Amer. dial.
1856 ► STRIPE persons of the same political colour → Amer.
1869 ► DECAPITATION in US politics: summary dismissal from office
1876 ► MACHINE the controlling organization of a political party → US politics
1879 ► PORK federal funds obtained through political influence → US sl.
1884 ► BARREL money for use in a political campaign, esp. for corrupt purposes → US political sl.
1884 ► BARREL-CAMPAIGN a political contest in which bribery is lavishly employed → US
L19.. ► SCALLYWAGGERY roguery, political opportunism → sl.
L19.. ► SCALLYWAGISM roguery, political opportunism → sl.
L19.. ► THE LIMPS the Liberals → Brit. political sl.
20C.. ► THE REDS communists, socialists → sl.
1909 ► PORK BARREL the state’s funds available for regional expenditure, esp. as disbursed subject to political influence → orig. & chiefly US sl.
1910 ► DUCK-SHOVING fighting for status, rank, position, esp. in political terms; in gambling: manipulating, using sleight of hand → Aust. & NZ sl.
1950 ► MONGOOSE GANG a group of thugs working for a politician and acting as a form of private army/secret police → W. Indies sl.
1968 ► DIRECT ACTION a political act, esp. a violent one that may lead to arrest → US sl.
1968 ► LINE political philosophy → US sl.
1971 ► ACTION a political act, often confrontational or violent → US sl.
1983 ► SLEAZE political corruption; the payment of money to politicians in return for political influence → sl., orig. US
1984 ► U-TURN a reversal of political policy → UK sl.
1992 ► THE MACHINE in big city politics: the over-arching political organization that runs all facets of life → US sl.
NOUNS, PERSON
1585 ► ZEALATOR a zealot; esp. a person who is excessively, immoderately, or fanatically devoted to cause or ideal, esp. a religious or political one
L16.. ► LACKEY an obsequious person; a today; a servile political follower
1607 ► WEALSMAN one devoted to the public weal; a statesman, a politician → obs.
1630 ► POLITICO a politician → sl., usually derogatory
1703 ► BIGWIG a powerful, important person; a person of consequence; one high in authority or rank; often a politician or bureaucrat → often derogatory
1755 ► RAT a person who deserts his or her party, side, or cause; a person puts personal considerations before political principles, departs radically from the official party line, or adopts the political beliefs of a rival party
1780 ► POT-HOUSE POLITICIAN a politician of low aims and motives; a professional politician, ignorant, irresponsible, and often venal
E19.. ► LOG-ROLLER a politician who engages in the corrupt giving of mutual aid → sl.
1817 ► CABINET MINISTER in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries: a member of a parliamentary cabinet
1820 ► RAD a person who advocates radical or far-reaching political or social reform; a member of a political party or part of a party pursuing such aims
1822 ► RADICAL a person who advocates radical or far-reaching political or social reform; a member of a political party or part of a party pursuing such aims; now also a revolutionary, esp. left-wing
1826 ► WIRE PULLER one who seeks to use personal influence to gain advantages and favours; powerful political partisan who does their work like a hidden spring ‘behind the scenes’ → Amer. sl.
1830 ► JACK a Jacksonian Democrat → Amer. political sl.
1838 ► POLITICIANER a politician → Amer. dial.
1840 ► DEMMY a Democrat → US political sl.
1841 ► ABSTRACTIONIST in US politics: a doctrinaire supporter or advocate of states’ rights, typically from one of the Southern states → mainly depreciative
1841 ► BARNBURNER a radical member of the Democratic party of New York State→ Amer. political sl.
1846 ► SNOLLYGOSTER a pretentious, boastful fellow; a shrewd, unprincipled fellow, especially a politician → US sl.
M19. ► QUOCKERWODGER a politician acting in accordance with the instructions of an influential third party, rather than properly representing their constituents → sl.
1851 ► RED an anarchist or republican, a Russian Bolshevik, or a Communist or extreme socialist → sl., derogatory
1856 ► SILVER-GRAY a Conservative → US politics
1859 ► POLITITIONER a politician → Amer. dial.
1860 ► BOSS the head of a political machine → Amer. sl.
1864 ► SCALAWAG → SCALLAWAG → SCALLOWAG → SCALLYWAG an impostor or intriguer, especially in politics; a corrupt politician; in U.S. Hist., a native white of the southern states who was willing to accept the terms of Reconstruction after the US Civil War (1861-5)
1868 ► CARPETBAGGER a person who interferes in local politics without being a true part of the local community → US sl.
1872 ► BUMMER a politician or public official who is idle or corrupt; a hanger-on of a political party’s officers → US obs.
1872 ► CACIQUE in Spanish politics: a man who owes his ascendancy to his power or influence; a political ‘boss’
1872 ► STRADDLE-BUG a politician who tries to please both sides; one who is on neither side of a public question
1875 ► DEM a Democrat → US colloq.
1877 ► SCATTERTATIONIST ‘a political quibbler who neutralizes their force by pursuing their crotchety views upon every minor point and by co-operating with nobody’ → US (Bk.)
1880 ► YOUNG SCRATCHER a Republican in the 1880 presidential campaign opposed to old-guard ‘machine’ politics → Amer. political sl.
1883 ► MACHINIST a ‘machine’ politician (see noun 1876) → US
1883 ► YELLOW DOG in US politics: orig. a political candidate, esp. one lacking qualifications or experience, who is expected to win an election based on voters’ loyalty to a particular party; spec., in later use, a Democratic candidate of this kind; now chiefly: a steadfast supporter of the Democratic Party, esp. one from a southern state → US
1884 ► CABINET-MAKER one who constructs a political cabinet
1884 ► GERRYMANDERER one who manipulates in order to gain an unfair advantage, esp. in politics → US
1884 ► WAR-HORSE a veteran soldier or politician; a person full of warlike memories
1885 ► TADPOLE a professional politician or hack of a political party
1886 ► QUIDNUNC a politician → sl.
1890 ► HIGH-BINDER a fraudulent politician; a political conspirator or blackmailer → US sl.
1890 ► WARD-HEELER a political hanger-on of the head of the city ward in which he resides; a politician who follows party policy assiduously → US
1891 ► BELLMARE a political leader: mostly in contempt → US sl. (Bk.)
1891 ► PIE EATER a contemptible person; a fool; a country bumpkin; also, a person who accepts political favours → US sl., derogatory
1895 ► GROUPIST an adherent of a ‘group’ or selection of a political party
1895 ► SILK-STOCKING a member of a branch of the Whig party in the earlier part of the 19th century → US politics
1895 ► ZOON POLITIKON a political animal, a person who is interested in or concerned about political issues, or who actively participates in politics
L19.. ► GOO-GOO a supporter of political reform → US sl.
1901 ► GRAFTER a person, esp. a politician or official, who takes advantage of his position to gain money or property unethically or illegally, as by taking bribes, levying extortion, diverting funds, etc. → orig. political & journalistic usage
1907 ► MOD a person who holds moderate views in politics, religion, etc. → Sc. Church Hist.
1908 ► BABY-KISSER a person campaigning for votes in his quest for elected political office; a politician who seeks to please the public by showing exaggerated interest in it → sl.
1910 ► LAME DUCK in politics, an elected official or legislative body whose term of office is nearing an end, esp. a legislator still in office after losing an election or a US president not running for re-election → US sl.
1910 ► MANDARIN a senior civil servant, politician, or commentator → sl.
1911 ► YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT a Southern expression for a Democrat who will vote for whoever the party’s candidate is, even a yellow dog; a steadfast Democrat party loyalist → Amer. political sl.
1913 ► HEELER a political fellow ready to do dirty work; one who is at the heel of a political boss → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1915 ► BIG NOISE a senior officer, politician, or anyone with considerable authority → World War I sl.
1915 ► MOOCHER a politician who takes graft or who ‘bolts’ (opposes his or her party’s position) → Amer. World War I sl.
1916 ► RED-RAGGER a Communist or socialist → Aust. sl., derogatory
1918 ► GLAD-HANDER a person, often a politician, who greets others effusively and often insincerely; one who acts more friendly or more optimistic than necessary; one who seeks self-aggrandizement through flattery and feigned cordiality → Amer. political sl.
1920 ► ACTIVIST a person engaged in or advocating vigorous political activity; an active campaigner
1920 ► ANGEL a person who contributes to a politician’s campaign fund → Amer. sl.
1922 ► BLACKSHIRT a member of a fascist party; spec. a member of Italy’s National Fascist Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista) (1921–43), or of the British Union of Fascists (1932–40); also, more generally, a person with fascist tendencies
1922 ► YOUNG BLOOD a young energetic member of a political party (Bk.)
1926 ► JACKASS a Democrat → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1927 ► PINK someone who holds left-of-centre (but not far-left) views → sl., derogatory
1929 ► PARLOUR PINK someone whose professed left-wing principles are insincere or not matched by their lifestyle → sl., derogatory
1929 ► YOUNG TURK a young person eager for radical change to the established order; a contentious young person who goes against the system
1930 ► CHRIST-KILLER a noisy political orator → US sl.
1933 ► UNTOUCHABLE a person or politician insusceptible of bribery → US criminals’ sl.
1934 ► BLIMP someone with reactionary views → sl., derogatory
1934 ► COLONEL BLIMP someone with reactionary views → sl., derogatory
1934 ► GEOPOLITICIAN an expert in or student of geopolitics; a proponent of the theory of geopolitics (politics, esp. relations between states, as influenced by geographical factors)
1934 ► GINGER GROUP politicians actively impatient with their own party → political sl.
1935 ► LEFTIE → LEFTY a left-winger; a person of liberal or socialist political beliefs; a radical → sl., usually derogatory
1936 ► PINKO someone who holds left-of-centre or mildly Communist views → sl., derogatory
1938 ► B’HOY a political henchman → Amer. dial.
1938 ► LABOR FAKER a political agitator among workers → US sl.
1939 ► COMMIE a Communist → sl., often derogatory
1939 ► LACQUEY a political hanger-on
1941 ► COMMO a Communist → sl., often derogatory
1942 ► ARM WAVER a politician → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 ► POL a politician → Amer. sl.
1942 ► POLLY a politician → Aust. sl.
1942 ► POLY a politician → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 ► PROMISING POLITICAN one who makes many promises → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 ► PULLITICIAN a politician with ‘pull’ or influence → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 ► SWALLOWTAILS business and professional men who engage in politics → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1943 ► SHELLBACK someone with reactionary views → sl.
1945 ► SATCH any man who talks a lot; esp. a gossip, a politician, etc.; often used as a nickname → Amer. sl.
1948 ► SHOO-IN a political candidate considered certain to win → US sl.
M20. ► DOVE in politics: a person who believes in a policy of negotiation and conciliation rather than warfare or confrontation
1950 ► HACK anyone who acts as a ‘yes-man’, esp. in politics → sl.
1951 ► COMRAT a political liberal → US sl., derogatory
1957 ► SACRIFICE HITTER in politics: a candidate who runs for the good of the party and other candidates, but who is likely to lose
1958 ► PROG someone who is progressive in their political or social views → sl.
1960 ► REDNECK a reactionary → sl., orig. US
1962 ► GUT-FIGHTER in politics: a candidate or political operative who wages an unusually aggressive uncompromising campaign, esp. against a politically stronger opponent → Amer. sl.
1962 ► WONK a political professional who is studious and therefore well informed → US sl., derogatory
1964 ► RADDIE a political radical → UK sl.
1964 ► WINGER a member of a political wing, right or left → colloq.
1967 ► HACK a labour organizer belonging to the Communist Party of the United States → Amer. sl.
1970 ► HARD HAT a very conservative right-winger; a reactionary → US sl.
1970 ► MODERNIZER in politics: a person who supports or works towards the modernization of a political party or system, esp. as regards ideological reform
1970 ► RADICLIB a radical liberal in politics → Amer. sl.
1970 ► RAD-LIB a radical liberal in politics → Amer. sl.
1971 ► CHINAMAN one who has and dispenses political influence → Amer. dial.
1973 ► MR. CLEAN someone who makes a point of portraying themselves (sincerely or otherwise) as free of corruption, esp. in politics, business, sport or other forms of public life in which a proclaimed moral stance is useful; an honourable or incorruptible politician → sl.
1973 ► PINKIE → PINKY someone who holds left-of-centre or mildly Communist views → sl., derogatory
1975 ► BELL-RINGER a local politician → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1976 ► BAGMAN a person who directs finances in a political campaign → Can. sl.
1976 ► HARD MAN an uncompromising politician or businessman → UK sl.
1977 ► FRONT PORCHER a political candidate who is reluctant to campaign widely → US political sl.
1980 ► BACKER one who supports a particular candidate, issue, or party → Amer. political usage (Bk.)
1980 ► JUNKYARD DOG a politician who is adept at investigating corruption → US sl.
1980 ► MICKEY MOUSE a candidate who has an easy victory → Amer. political sl. (Bk.)
1980 ► WET a Conservative politician with liberal or middle-of-the-road views (often applied to those opposed to the monetarist policies of Margaret Thatcher) → Brit. sl., derogatory
1982 ► FUNDI → FUNDIE → FUNDY a fundamentalist politician; a member of the radical left wing of the German Green Party → sl.
1982 ► RADICAL RIGHTIST an extreme conservative in politics → US (Bk.)
1983 ► DRY a Conservative politician who advocates individual responsibility, free trade, and economic stringency, and opposes high government spending → Brit. sl., derogatory
1984 ► SPIN DOCTOR a political press agent or publicist employed to promote a favourable interpretation of events to journalists → colloq., orig. US
1985 ► TANKIE → TANKY a member of the former British Community Party who supported hardline (esp. interventionist) Soviet politics → sl.
1986 ► SPINMEISTER a ‘spin doctor’, esp. an accomplished or politically powerful one; an expert at presenting information or events to the media in a favourable light → colloq.
1989 ► HORSE a congressman who introduces or supports a lobbyist’s bill → US political usage
1990 ► BARNSTORMER a politician making a rapid tour delivering campaign speeches, typically in rural areas → Amer. political sl.
1990 ► CHAMPAGNE SOCIALIST one who preaches socialism but espouses a capitalist lifestyle → sl.
1990 ► SUSHI SOCIALIST one who preaches socialism but espouses a capitalist lifestyle → sl.
1991 ► VELCROID a person who seeks the company of the powerful or famous in an attempt to borrow glory by proximity → Amer. political sl.
1992 ► FAIRY (STORY) a Tory politician → Brit. rhyming sl.
1993 ► MOSES a political candidate who is seen to be metaphorically roaming the desert of the talk show circuit instead of focusing on specific issues → (Bk.)
19C.. ► SACHEM a political leader; one of the leaders of New York’s Tammany Society → US sl.
2004 ► YESTERDAY’S MAN a man, esp. a politician, whose career is finished or past its peak (Bk.)
2006 ► FLESH-PRESSER a politician → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► PALM-PRESSER a politician → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► WINGNUT a person on the far right or left politically → Amer. political sl. (Bk.)
2018 ► GAMMON a right-wing White male, supportive of ‘Little Englander’ nationalism and its political/philosophical coevals → sl.
VERBS
1598 ► POLITIZE to play the politician; to dispute as politicians do; to treat politically or diplomatically; to deal in politics → obs.
1810 ► RAT to desert a party, cause, or principle → sl.
1846 ► HORSE-SHED to attempt to influence individual voters, witnesses, or jurors, esp. while feigning impartiality → US law & political usage
1904 ► STUFF A BALLOT-BOX to tamper with returns by the surreptitious introduction into the ballot-box of bogus voting papers → Amer. political usage (Bk.)
1913 ► CROWD THE MOURNERS to add some further embarrassment to politicians labouring under difficulties → Amer. political sl..(Bk.)
1920 ► ABSTAIN FROM BEANS to desist from politics → sl.
1926 ► PRESS THE FLESH to greet potential supporters by shaking their hands → sl., orig. & chiefly US
1930 ► DO A MACDONALD to desert one’s party → Brit. Labour leaders’ usage
1973 ► HAVE A CHINAMAN (now considered offensive) to have political influence → Amer. sl.
1999 ► FEED THE CHOOKS of a politician; to submit to a barrage of reporters and TV cameras, and give out morsels of information → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
Lexicophilia 