magic asterisk
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.04 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
an unspecified future budget cut, especially an imaginary cut.
Example Sentences
- "The other technique, known as the "magic asterisk," consisted of hiding phony cuts in the small print of various budget documents in order to exaggerate the Administration's success in spending reduction and to minimize the projected deficit."
- "Howard Baker, then a Senator, had dubbed them the "magic asterisk," for it was blithely assumed that they would be taken care of at a later date."
- ""They have a magic asterisk," Hoyer said. The magic asterisk: The words alone are enough to strike fear into the hearts of grizzled veterans of the budget wars."