The Conversation

The Conversation Glossary

burned

found out

Dear Abby

A popular advice column founded in 1956

bug

Surveillance microphone planted somewhere to spy on someone

bugger

A surveillance expert

warehouse

A commercial/industrial building typically used for storage

Gal Friday

A female helper or assistant to a high-powered businessman

teamster

truck driver

welfare fund

A fund held by a union or an employer to help out-of-work employees

MOSFET amplifier

A transistor used to amplify sound for surveillance

Uncle Sam

A personified symbol of the United States government

fag

derogatory term for a homosexual man

princess phone

A popular compact landline phone invented in the 1960s

trick

a job

confession

An admission of sins to a priest for the purpose of absolution

sin

In religion, a transgression against divine law

holy oil

A consecrated oil used in the Christian religion

Infernal Revenue

Stan's cheeky nickname for the Internal Revenue Service, the national tax collection agency

bar none

without exception

cross-hairs

lines crossing at right angles used to center an optical instrument

newspaper strike

A strike in New York in 1962 which shut down the distribution of 7 newspapers for 114 days