Understanding the Local Lingo of Washington, D.C.

Washington is a unique city, and nowhere is that more evident than in its unique language — the jargon of politics and government. You'll hear it spoken not only when you tour the halls of Congress but also when you eavesdrop on conversations in a restaurant, along the sidewalk, or on a Metrorail train.

If you're fluent in this jargon, then you know that a lawmaker doesn't propose a piece of legislation; he drops a bill. The heads of the powerful House subcommittees that control spending bills are not chairmen; they're the college of cardinals. A gaggle is not a gathering of geese but a gathering of reporters around a news source. You could write a book about this stuff. In fact, several people already have.

Here are a few definitions of words or phrases you may hear and wonder about as you wander about D.C.:

• Advance man: A political operative who prepares an event before the candidate arrives.

• Background: Interviewer-interviewee agreement by which the information imparted can be reported but the source's identity must be kept confidential.

• Carpetbagger: Politician who moves into a new community to seek power.

• Dark horse: Candidate who probably can't win.

• Eleventh Commandment: GOP tradition — often honored in the breach — that Republicans should not speak ill of other Republicans.

• Fat cat: Someone with lots of money.

• Gentle lady: What the gentlemen of the House call their female colleagues because, for some reason, just plain "lady" doesn't suffice.

• Gerrymander: To draw odd-shaped legislative districts in order to benefit the party in power.

• Hack: A low-ranking party worker who does what he's told.

• Junket: A government official's all-expenses-paid trip that has questionable value to government.

• Lame duck: Government official who has been defeated or can't run for reelection.

• Off the record: Information that can't be published.

• The other body: What the House calls the Senate and the Senate calls the House.

• Pork: Legislated benefits for a small group rather than for the national interest.

• POTUS: In acronym-obsessed Washington, the President of the United States.

• Red tape: Bureaucratic rules that slow down action.

• SCOTUS: The Supreme Court of the United States.

• Smoke-filled room: Where politicians cut deals without public scrutiny, and where today smoking probably isn't allowed.

• Think tank: Organization that conducts research and analysis.

• Veep: The vice president.

• Waffle: Not taking a clear stand.