English Explanatory Dictionary

magic asterisk

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. an unspecified future budget cut, especially an imaginary cut.

Pronunciation

En-au-magic asterisk.ogg

Word forms

magic asterisk magic asterisks

Etymology

Coined by Howard Henry Baker Jr., from the Reagan administration's use in 1981 of asterisks as placeholders for cuts yet to be decided in government spending.

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