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B.O.
The natural aroma that spawned an industry, coincidentally not long after the emergence of mass-market advertising. |
Bohemian
An urban hipster who rejects mindless bourgeois comforts for the exhilaration of chasing cockroaches around a bedsitter with shared facilities. |
Bomb
1. An explosive device that, when dropped by a plane, can flatten a building. 2. (chiefly U.S.) An expensive film that, when dropped by the public, can flatten a movie studio and numerous careers. 3. (chiefly Brit.) A blockbuster. |
Book Review
A brief but informative essay that spares readers the ordeal of digesting an actual book. |
Bookcase
A piece of furniture used in America to display bowling trophies and Elvis collectibles. |
Books
Non-fattening sandwiches of paper and print, now largely consumed either for information or titillation; in the pre-electronic era, one of the chief sources of private inspiration and civilized pleasure. |
Born-again
Describing one who believes he has cast his lot with the elect; a state of grace attained by converts to fundamentalist Christianity, vegetarianism, bodybuilding, Transcendental Meditation and - for about six months - true love. |
Boss
A personal dictator appointed to those of us fortunate enough to live in free societies. |
Bottom line
The essential concern of a business person; i.e., the wallet. A multipurpose buzzword that may be used (and translated) as follows: 'What's the bottom line?' (What's in it for me?) 'How's their bottom line?' (Are they raking in more than we are?) 'Get to the bottom line.' (My time is too valuable to waste on technicalities I'm too dense to understand; that's why I hire underpaid lackeys like you.) |
Boutique
A salon consecrated to the merchandising of snobbery and overpriced apparel. |
