black money • white money black money—1. money not declared for tax purposes (by casino operators, etc.): Erlich has also promised an amnesty for those who reveal their black money and pay a tax on it. 2. money paid to workman handling dirty materials or working in dirty conditions: When any class of work involves special unpleasantness, “black money ” or “dirty money” is sometimes stipulated for. white money —(arch.) standard silver coins: Rutland pays to the King one hundred and fifty pounds white money . See also: pink money / red money. Black Republic, the • Black Republicans Black Republic, the —Haiti (a West Indian State): My subject is Haiti, the Black Republic ; the only self-made Black Re- public in the world. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase Black Country, the—(UK) a highly industrialized region of west-central England centered on Birmingham: It is believed that the Black Country got its name because of pollution from these heavy industries that covered the area in black soot. Black Republicans—(U.S. hist.) Republican opponents of slavery, during the period which preceded the American Civil War: The Whig party adopted the name of Republicans, and were called by their opponents Black Republicans , from their anti-slavery tendencies. black sheep • black swan black sheep —smb. who is very different from the other peo- ple in the group and is considered a bad character: Every priv- ileged class tries at first to whitewash its black sheep . black swan —(also: white crow) said of a person or thing that is extremely rare: After all, he may not be such a black swan as Aunt Susan makes him out. blank check • blank sheet blank check—freedom to choose whatever course of action one thinks is necessary: The coach was given a blank check by the university to try and improve the team. blank sheet—(also: clean sheet) 1. a fresh start when people decide to forget about previous mistakes, failures, etc.: Man- agers should start with a blank sheet regardless of the com- mitments already made and resources applied. 2. said of the human mind at birth, regarded as having no innate concep- tions: Nor were they alone in their belief that a new-born’s mind is a blank sheet on which society can write what it pleased. blind auction • blind bidding blind auction —an auction in which all parties submit sealed bids by a given date: The U.S. government sells surplus equip- ment and confiscated goods at blind auctions on several mil- itary posts. blind bidding —(Cinema) putting in a bid for the rental of a picture without the opportunity to see a preview: Movie theater owners had to accept blind bidding from the distrib- utors. Blind Freddy • Blind Tom Blind Freddy—(Austral. sl.) a person of low intelligence: Even Blind Freddy could tell you that the government would fall. Blind Tom—Thomas Wiggins (born blind in 1849), an African American autistic musical prodigy: Blind Tom toured all over the U.S. giving prestigious performances. blind to the world • dead to the world blind to the world —(coll.) extremely drunk: He may be a nice enough fellow when he is sober. But on the two occasions I have met him he was blind to the world and a perfect nui- sance. dead to the world —(coll.) 1. unconscious or fast asleep: A muffled sound of snoring rose from the great hall where thirty exhausted lads lay dead to the world . 2. = blind to the world: Six beers and he was dead to the world . 3. unaware of or not interested in modern affairs: Old Marryat is dead to the world ; I tried to talk to him on at least a dozen modern topics but he responded to none of them. block operator • block worker block operator —(Railways) a railroad worker who operates block signals manually: Under Rule 305, block operators had to inform the dispatcher of an approaching train. block worker—a person who campaigns on the most local level (as a city block) on behalf of a political party: He has served as a Democratic Party block worker and has twice been a primary election candidate for this Congressional district. blood bath • blood-tub blood bath —a wholesale slaughter; a massacre: Even today, after the unspeakable horror of the blood bath in Hungary, the betting is still somewhat against a “re–Stalinization.” blood-tub —(sl.) a theater specializing in the worst forms of melodrama: Warrilow points out that more than one theatre in Burslem was affectionately known as the “Blood Tub .” Bloody Maria • Bloody Mary Bloody Maria—a drink consisting of a mixture of tequila and tomato juice: Stir all ingredients well with ice…. For a Bloody Maria just replace the vodka with tequila. Bloody Mary —a drink consisting of a mixture of vodka and tomato juice: A waitress approached the table. “A Virgin Mary…. A Bloody Mary without the vodka.” blow great guns • go great guns blow great guns—(of wind) blow severely: The wind was blowing great guns but there was only the thinnest sprinkle of rain. go great guns—(dated coll.) proceed or perform with great speed, skill, or success: You will then not only go great guns — move steadily forward—but also become big shots—impor- tant personages. Cf.: great guns—persons of distinction or im- portance: They are great guns in the kitchen, but shrink to suitable dimensions in the presence of their betters. blow hot and cold • go hot and cold blow hot and cold—keep changing one’s attitude towards smth.: I will have nought to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath. go hot and cold —suddenly feel very worried and frightened about smth.: I used to go hot and cold about it because I knew what the implications were. blow it • blow me blow it—1. (sl.) lose or bungle an opportunity, etc.: He’ll probably blow it . He’s beginning to look old. 2. (interj.) used as an oath or expletive to express annoyance: Blow it ! I just can’t get this wallpaper straight! Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase blow it out of proportion— make smth. appear more sig- nificant than it should be: It’s sensational and it is easy to make headlines out of it. But the media blew it out of proportion . blow me—1. (UK) is used as an emphatic exclamation to express surprise (also: blow me down): Blow me if it isn’t old Charley—I’ve not seen you for years: how are you, old friend? 2. (U.S. coarse sl.) a very vulgar phrase with sexual implication hurled by an angry person: And if the authorities don’t like it—well, they can blow me ! – 51 – blow it