Joe Rodolico's definitions

karaoke

Singing without a live orchestra or band. Originally meaning "without orchestra," it is a combination of Japanese "kara" meaning "empty/bare-handed" as in "karate", and the "okee" sound from the first syllable of "orchestra" as pronounced by Japanese.

The guy who thought up karaoke created a bar owner's dream, because as patrons provide their own entertainment by singing along with a machine, management saves a fortune by not hiring talented musicians.

by Joe Rodolico February 11, 2007

schifoso

Italian slang. A foul, disgusting, low-down, rotten person. Also spelled skifozo.

That schifoso would sell anything to anybody, including his own mother, if someone made him an offer.

by Joe Rodolico November 14, 2006

H-Hour

A redundancy in military jargon signifying the exact hour for an operation to begin. Big "H" for "big hour".

The invasion of the enemy held island began at H-Hour, 05:00.

by Joe Rodolico February 10, 2007

two-thousandaire

A member of America's class of home-owning families with only two thousand dollars in savings. Deeply in debt, they live from paycheck to paycheck dreading any unforseen financial catastrophies such as a sudden illness or unemployment. First coined by Karen De Coster and Eric Englund.

Taking out a home equity loan might seem like a good idea to a two-thousandaire, unless one gets laid off and ends up penniless.

by Joe Rodolico July 1, 2006

toxic wife

A woman who only marries for financial gain. Once the money is gone, she quickly leaves her husband and takes what little money is left with her.

After Howard lost everything in the stock market bust, he realized what a toxic wife Wanda really was when she emptied out their joint bank account and split.

by Joe Rodolico December 19, 2008