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A “sacred cow” is any program, policy, or person that is regarded as being beyond attack or untouchable. The term references the status held by cows in Hindu culture, where the cow is regarded as a sacred animal.

For instance, …

In politics, a “safety net” – also known as a “social safety net” – refers to the welfare programs that are designed to provide benefits to low-income or elderly Americans.

Safety net is generally a positive term – people who …

“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.

The expression evokes the idea of slicing up one’s opposition in the same way as one might slice up a salami.

The phrase was …

“Samizdat” was a form of underground press commonly available in eastern European countries with state-owned media sources.

Samizdat typically is a grassroots way to distribute censored content to citizens who otherwise would not have access to this material. 

It can …

Sandbagging is deceptive behavior intended to lower someone’s expectations so that they can be taken by surprise later.

Typically, sandbagging involves lulling someone into a false sense of security and then taking advantage of them. It’s an act of psychological …

The Saturday Night Massacre refers to October 20, 1973, the Saturday night when then-President Richard Nixon gave the order to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, leading to the resignation of his Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General.

Nixon ordered the …

A “scalawag” is a pejorative term for a white southerner who supported Reconstruction efforts in the south in the late 1800s. They are often associated with carpetbaggers, who were their northern counterparts.

The term was used by southern Democrats …

A “scorched earth” approach is a ruthless attempt to win at all costs.

A “take no prisoners” approach is a rough synonym; both terms imply a total focus on victory without regard to consequences.

The phrase is originally a military …

A Senate hold is how a senator informally signals his objection to a bill or nomination.

Most congressional actions clear parliamentary hurdles by “unanimous consent” of the Senate, so a senator who intends to object to such procedures can, effectively, …

To “send them a message” is a call to action from a politician telling supporters to use their political capital to voice their opinion.

This can be performed in many ways. A protest can be sending a message, because it …

“Separate but equal” was the infamous justification for the decision in Plessy v Ferguson, the case that formally legalized segregation.

The justification behind the decision was that segregation was constitutional as long as both black and white Americans had equal …

The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate each have a sergeant-at-arms, whose job it is to maintain order in the legislative chamber.

In the Senate, the sergeant-at-arms can also be instructed to request the presence of senators if not …

A “shadow cabinet” is formed when the opposition party in a parliamentary system appoints members to serve in each of the cabinet-level positions — even though the members have no real authority. They simply serve to help set policy for …

The term “sharp-elbowed” refers in politics to being aggressive and assertive when it comes to pursuing a political agenda or pushing one’s point of view.

The phrase is traditionally intended to describe a positive attribute in a politician, suggesting that …

A Shermanesque statement is a clear and direct statement by a potential political candidate indicating that he or she will not run for a particular office.

The term is derived from a remark made by Gen. William Tecumseh …

Shivercrats were a conservative faction of the Texas Democratic Party in the 1950s named for Texas Gov. Allan Shivers (D).

The term was first used in 1952 after Shivers backed Republican Dwight Eisenhower for president over Democrat Adlai Stevenson.

Interestingly, …

To have your opponent by the “short hairs” means that you’ve got them in a tight spot, and they are at your mercy.

If you’re in the U.K., you might talk about having someone by the “short and curlies,” instead …

A “shy voter” is one who does not admit to supporting a certain candidate to pollsters, but still votes for that candidate in the election.

The term comes from the “Shy Tory Effect,” a phenomenon that found British conservatives greatly …

The term “silent majority” refers to a large block of voters that feel marginalized, silenced or underserved by the political system. It’s commonly assumed that, if they voted en masse, this “silent majority” would have an enormous ability to affect …

The term “sine die” is a Latin phrase that literally means “without a day” or “without setting a day.”

In politics, it is used to signify the end of a legislative session without a specific date being set …

A “Sister Souljah moment” is a public repudiation of an extremist person or statement perceived to have some association with a politician or his party.

It’s a strategy designed to signal to centrist voters to show that the politician is …

A form of peaceful protest that involves sitting down and occupying space, often preventing access to a business or public space.

Sit-ins are a common form of protest in the US, and have been around since the late 1930s. During …

A “situation room” is a physical room in which key decision makers gather to share information and make plans about the major issues affecting their future.

National governments can have a situation room; so can municipal governments or even cable …

The “six-year itch” is the election held in the sixth year of a president’s tenure.

In this election, the party holding the White House historically loses a substantial number of seats in the House and Senate.

Overall, the six-year itch …

A “slogan” is a short and catchy phrase used to promote a candidate for political office or an idea.

Slogans attempt to be memorable so that people remember the person behind them more easily.

Examples of slogans used for candidates …

In politics, “slow walk” is a term used to describe an effort to prevent legislation or a political process from moving forward by intentionally slowing it down to a crawl. Another similar term is “obstructionism.”

The origin of …

A “slush fund” is an unregulated store of money which is often used for illicit or illegal purposes.

In the 19th century, “slush” meant the leftover fat from cooking bacon and other meats. This fat was valuable, since it could …

To “smear” someone is to spread lies and false accusations in an attempt to hurt their public image. 

Smearing is similar to mudslinging, but with a few key differences. Smearing is usually false, whereas mudslinging might be true.

Smearing also …

A smear campaign is repeated uses of smears in an attempt to try to damage someone’s reputation, typically to make them lose an election.

The goal of a smear campaign is to create a negative public perception of the targeted …

“Smell of jet fuel” is a reference to the impatience that sets in when Members of Congress are ready to leave Washington, D.C. to return to their districts for the weekend or a legislative recess.…

“Smoke and mirrors” are tricks used to obscure the truth, usually through distraction, misdirection, or partial truths.

Smoke and mirrors can also be used to draw people’s attention away from unpleasant facts.

The phrase was first used in the modern, …

A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make important decisions or negotiations without public scrutiny.

The term originated in the early 20th century, …

In politics, the term “smoking gun” refers to a piece of evidence that definitively proves a crime or wrongdoing by an official.

The term originated from the idea that finding a gun that’s still smoldering on a murder suspect would …

A “snollygoster” is a political operative or candidate who uses cunning or ethically questionable behavior to achieve power.

The term snollygoster is traced back to 1846 by Merriam-Webster with a strong preference for the word among Southern politicians starting in …

“Soft power” is the ability to obtain what one wants through co-option rather than the use of coercion.

It was first coined by Joseph Nye of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in the late 1980s and is now widely …

In the second half of the 20th century, the Republican party used the so-called “Southern strategy” to win the votes of white southerners.

White southerners had traditionally been Democratic voters, in part because the Republican party was closely associated …

“Spin Alley” is the place designated after a political debate where reporters interview analysts and campaign operatives who attempt to “spin” the news coverage of the event.

A video from the 2008 presidential campaign shows what “spin alley” looked like …

A split ticket is when a voter chooses candidates from different political parties in the same election.…

A “spoiler” is a candidate who has no chance of winning, but whose candidacy still impacts the outcome of the election.

A spoiler candidate draws votes away from one of the major parties, tipping the balance in favor of …

The “spoils system” describes when a candidate wins election and then rewards campaign staffers and fundraisers by appointing them to prized jobs in the administration.

This practice is sometimes also called the patronage system.

The spoils system has likely …

A “stalking horse” is a candidate put forward in an election to conceal an anonymous person’s potential candidacy.

If the idea of the campaign proves viable, the anonymous person can then declare their interest and run with little risk of …

A “steamroller” is someone who brings something about by means of brute political might. A politician might be said to “steamroller” the opposition, or even to steamroller a faction in their own political party.

Steamroller is a negative term. Nobody …

A “stemwinder” is a rousing political speech that galvanizes a crowd to take action.

It’s a speech that is able to capture the attention and enthusiasm of the audience, and that is able to persuade and motivate them to support …

Straight ticket voting allows voters to choose every candidate on a single party’s slate by making just one ballot mark.

Over the years, many states that once allowed straight ticket voting have abolished it. In 2020, only seven states …

Two politicians are “strange bedfellows” if they have made an unusual political alliance.

The term comes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest when a storm causes Trinculo to seek shelter under a sheet with Caliban, whom he regards as an enemy. “There …

Strategery is a fictional word coined by comedy writer Jim Downey in a now famous Saturday Night Live sketch written to lampoon former president George W. Bush during the election cycle of 2000, when he was still a candidate.

The …

A stump speech is a speech that a politician makes again and again as they travel to different places during a campaign.

The expression dates back to early American history, when candidates would travel through the countryside building support …

When it’s time to leave a race for public office, candidates often announce their “suspended campaign” instead of actually dropping out.

Practically speaking, there is not a big difference and federal law does not define or officially recognize the act …

“Swiftboating” refers to the use of dishonest or misleading tactics to attack or smear the reputation or character of a political opponent.

The term comes from the 2004 presidential campaign, when a group called the Swift Boat Veterans …