October surprise (ok-TOH-buhr suhr-PRYZ) noun A last minute surprise, especially one orchestrated by a candidate to influence an election.
[The US presidential elections take place on the first Tuesday in November. The idea of an October surprise stems from the belief that a significant event taking place just before the election would influence the voters and change the result. The term originated in the 1980 US presidential elections. US embassy personnel were held hostage in Tehran, leading to speculation that the incumbent president would secure their release just before the election, in order to boost his prospects for re-election.] More on October surprise from Wikipedia, an online collaborative encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Surprise Also see: http://www.nametheoctobersurprise.com/ "'Consumers should get ready for an October surprise from their banks when this new check processing law is implemented,' said Gail Hillebrand, senior attorney with Consumer's Union." Teresa Mcusic; Savvy Consumer: New Law Raises Your Risk of Bouncing Checks; Fort Wayne News Sentinel (Indiana); Sep 27, 2004. "The possibility of a US October surprise on North Korea was flatly rejected yesterday by Washington's top envoy to Seoul." Choi Soung-ah; 'No US October Surprise in Korea'; Korea Herald (Seoul, South Korea); Oct 8, 2004. This week's theme: words from politics and elections. Sponsored by: Flatter your pals and make them smarter with the gift of knowledge. This year give mental_floss magazine. http://mentalfloss.com Monthly French, German, Italian and Spanish cultural audio magazines for intermediate-to-advanced learners. http://web.champs-elysees.com/wsmith1 ............................................................................ Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963) What to give to the person who has everything? Give the gift of words. Here is a gift that keeps on giving. To enter a gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day, please visit http://wordsmith.org/awad/gift.html To subscribe yourself, use http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscribe.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/october_surprise.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/october_surprise.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/october_surprise.html This message was sent to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]".
