Political Dictionary

“Guns before butter” refers to the debate over how governments should use their revenue: should resources be used to build up the military, or should they be spent on domestic…

The practice of backing up diplomatic efforts with a visible show of military might.

A “fifth column” is a group which operates in secret, usually within enemy lines, in order to help further a cause which they secretly support.

“Bird-dogging” is a term that originates from hunting, where a bird dog is trained to sniff out and point towards game birds, but in politics it takes on a unique…

“Third-rate burglary” is a phrase which President Richard Nixon’s press secretary used to describe the Watergate break-in.

A “grand design” refers to any kind of deliberate plan of action. In politics, the term is usually used to mean an overarching strategy or a long-term plan.