Political Jargon That Might Help You Understand Washington DC

Washington DC is a political jungle, and you’ll need an understanding of the jargon and slang to understand or navigate this rather strange place. Here are twenty sayings that you might hear around Capitol Hill, in news reports, or from pundits on TV.

Beltway — AKA, “Inside the Beltway.” It refers to anything on the inside of Interstate 495 that encircles Washington DC and anything of interest to those working and living in that area, namely politicians, lobbyists, and federal contractors. It was first thought to be used in The New York Times in 1975.

Bimbo Factor — This tidbit involves a sex scandal involving a male politician and the effect a person of the female persuasion has on them. Also known as the bimbo syndrome. It first appeared in print in May 1987 in The Philadelphia Inquirer and referenced when Gary Hart dropped out of the 1988 Presidential race due to reports about his extramarital affair.

Bloviate — This one means to go on and on and on, usually in some type of pompous way while saying nothing of substance. The word seems to originate in Ohio in the mid-19th century and is attributed to President Warren G. Harding, whose home state was Ohio. This word was how Harding described his speaking style.