third rail

An issue or topic that is so controversial that it would immediately damage or destroy one's political career or credibility. An allusion to the electrified rail that powers electric railway systems, its figurative sense is almost exclusively used in relation to politics. Primarily heard in US. I wouldn't even bring it up—trying to withdraw people's social security benefits has long been the third rail of politics. Any talk of dismantling or reforming the current healthcare system has been a political third rail for the last two decades or so.

third rail

Something that is dangerous to tamper with, as in Anything concerning veterans is a political third rail. This term alludes to the rail that supplies the high voltage powering an electric train, so called since 1918. On the other hand, grab hold of the third rail means "become energized." Both shifts from the original meaning date from the late 1900s.

词组	third rail
释义	third rail third rail An issue or topic that is so controversial that it would immediately damage or destroy one's political career or credibility. An allusion to the electrified rail that powers electric railway systems, its figurative sense is almost exclusively used in relation to politics. Primarily heard in US. I wouldn't even bring it up—trying to withdraw people's social security benefits has long been the third rail of politics. Any talk of dismantling or reforming the current healthcare system has been a political third rail for the last two decades or so. See also: rail, third Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. third rail Something that is dangerous to tamper with, as in Anything concerning veterans is a political third rail. This term alludes to the rail that supplies the high voltage powering an electric train, so called since 1918. On the other hand, grab hold of the third rail means "become energized." Both shifts from the original meaning date from the late 1900s. See also: rail, third The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. See also: beat (one) to the draw the mark of Cain baton hand on the baton fire from the hip shoot from the hip hip-shooter end game a security blanket game is not worth the candle, the References in periodicals archive Schumer, D-N.Y., said at the site of the collision earlier Friday, was how pieces of the third rail had torn off the tracks. Engineer helped passengers escape flames In April an Indiana man was killed after coming into contact with the electrified third rail when he was about to urinate on railway tracks in Evanston, Chicago. New York Subway Drunk Electrocuted Urinating on Live Rail Here we are in 2010 and the railw ays in the south still use the old third rail system with all its problems. Wrong type of progress; Your shout At the time of adoption of the third rail package, a majority of MEPs - but not the qualified majority required - had sought the liberalisation of domestic routes for 1 January 2017. Transport : MEPS push for more investments in TEN-T But as society changes, so does the third rail. At one time, voting tights for women was such an issue. Third rail This unit can supply power to the auxiliary control circuitry from any number of different sources including the third rail catenary line. Dead start auxiliary converter They can't vote, so their social security isn't the third rail of American politics. Innocents lost: despite the grandiose rhetoric, millions of the world's children remain left behind I was rather puzzled at the response to the Quizzical question about the third rail that appeared in the May issue. Shocking answer It makes a caffeinated lager called Third Rail for a San Francisco-based firm that markets the beer in northern California and hopes to expand distribution to the East Coast later this year, Frederick Brewing Co. Frederick Brewing Co. brews caffeinated beer All these topics and others were bandied about as quickly as images in a movie preview as the president took hold of what's commonly called the third rail of American politics. Social Security reform: what it could mean for long term care steel tube third rail that maintains rigidity to assure this predicable quality. Efficient panel saw: 1961 Because there are no easy answers and it is certain that a number of strong, competing interests will collide in moving forward, some have suggested that health care reform may well replace Social Security as the "third rail" in American politics. Improving the quality of life: we must fix health care without sacrificing medical innovation Abortion "Rights" Likened to Social Security "We are going to make women's rights, and especially reproductive rights, another third rail of American politics, just like social security. Snapshots Social Security has often been referred to as the "third rail" of American politics--members of Congress who "touched it" or proposed changes to it, faced political death. Second term best for Social Security reform: the proposals from the president's first term have been vetted publicly and will be primed for debate in Congress, and it is important that Social Security reform receives the attention that is needed to place the program on sound financial footing for the future every Wednesday at the Third Rail Lounge at Central Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts (617-354-2685; admission: $3). Slam or be slammed: emerging poets are finding more places to practice their craft and compete against the best of the best
随便看	a smidgen a smile is worth a thousand words (as) miserable as sin a smoke-filled room a smokescreen a smoking gun a smooth operator ASMR as much as much as as much as anything (else) as much as (one) could do (not) (to do something) as much as (one's) life is worth as much as somebody can/could do to do something as much as the traffic will bear as much chance as a wax cat in hell as much fun as a barrel of monkeys as much use as a chocolate fireguard a snack (as) naked as a jaybird as naked as the day (one) was born a snake in (one's) bosom a snake in the grass a snap a sneak preview