An admiral is standing by a candy machine at the Naval Academy in Annapolis when he stops a plebe walking by.
- "Sailor, do you have change for a dollar?"
- "Sure, buddy," - says the plebe, rooting around his pocket.
- "That"s no way to address an officer! Now let"s try it again. Do you have change for a dollar?"
The plebe snaps to attention and barks,
- "No, sir!"
- (of a political situation etc.) Complex, inflexible, or underhand. —n. Citizen of byzantium or the e. Roman empire. byzantinism n. Byzantinist n. [latin byzantium, now istanbul]
BACKBITING
n. Malicious talk. backbite v.
BACKBOILER
n. Boiler behind a domestic fire.
BACKBURNER
n. on the back-burner receiving little attention.
BACKGAMMON
n. Board-game with pieces moved according to throws of the dice. [from *back + obsolete form of *game1]
BACKGROUND
n. - part of a scene or picture furthest from the observer.
- (often attrib.) Inconspicuous position (kept in the background; background music).
- person's education, social circumstances, etc.
- explanatory or contributory information or events.
BACKHANDED
adj. - made with the back of the hand.
- indirect; ambiguous (backhanded compliment).
BACKHANDER
n. - a backhand stroke. B backhanded blow.
- slang bribe.
BACKSTAIRS
—n.pl. Rear or side stairs of a building. —attrib. Adj. (also backstair) underhand; secret.
BACKSTITCH
n. Sewing with each stitch starting behind the end of the previous one.
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