snollygoster

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Related to snollygoster: compelling, meant, spruik, commencing

snol·ly·gos·ter

(snŏl′ē-gŏs′tər)

n. Slang

One, especially a politician, who is guided by personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles.

[Perhaps alteration of snallygaster, a mythical beast said to prey on poultry and children, perhaps from Pennsylvania Dutch schnelle geeschter : Middle High German snēl, quick (from Old High German) + Middle High German geist, spirit (from Old High German).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

snollygoster

(ˈsnɒlɪˌɡɒstə)

(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) slang US a politician who cares more for personal gain than serving the people

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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References in periodicals archive ?

Snollygoster: (a) a shrewd person (b) cultured (c) transporter (d) humorist 10.

Gates to leave little for his kids

I figured since every gasbag from the president to the Grand Poobah of Putterville has recently delivered their State of the Union, State of the State, State of the City and State of the Snollygoster speeches, why shouldn't I?

The "state of the Sandpile" address: just takin' my turn at the annual gasbaggery ..

Coming soon is the annual State of the Union speech, followed rapidly by dozens of gasbags givin' State of the State, State of the City, State of the Snollygoster and state-of-whatever speeches.

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IT'S a dictionary that took about 50 years to complete, and the final volume arrives just in time for the 2012 US presidential election with words such as snollygoster, a southern US term for a self-promoting politician.

Lowdown on snollygosters; weird WORLD

The word "snollygoster", meaning a shrewd, unprincipled person, has been applied to politicians.

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Why call your MP a dishonest politician when you could call him a snollygoster?

Weird words give us a sore clavus

Snollygoster A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician It first appeared in English in a newspaper in Kentucky in the US, in 1846, but could have come from the German phrase schnelle geister or "quick spirit".

Who are you calling a mugwump, you foozle! The other obscure insults Boris could have used..

Words like "snollygoster," which means "a dishonest politician".

Victor Lewis-Smith's column: WORD TO THE WISE

WHAT would you do if you were having problems with a temulent snollygoster?

OSTROBOGULOUS; In a word, it's weird or bizarre

Just call him a blatherskite or even a snollygoster in reply.

BLATHERSKITES; ..if you're one of them then you'll know what we're talking about

He writes, "After 30 years of occasionally saving lives, I learned that by writing and speaking, I can do more good for more citizens, while tolerating far fewer medical-political snollygosters."

Dog Ear Publishing Releases Author K. Patrick McDonald's Novel, "Paramedic Heretic: Immutable Laws and Ethical Illusions"

Are your friends all snollygosters and do you call the doctor when you have otalgia?