politics
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pol·i·tics
(pŏl′ĭ-tĭks)politics
(ˈpɒlɪtɪks)pol•i•tics
(ˈpɒl ɪ tɪks)n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)
Politics
2. the desire for a leader to emulate Napoleon Bonaparte. — Bonapartist, n.
2. an extreme conservatism, especially in politics. — Bourbonist, n. — Bourbonian, Bourbonic, adj.
2. the principles or practices of communal ownership. Cf. communism, socialism. — communalist, n. — communalistic, adj.
2. the principles and practices of political conservatives, especially of the British Conservative party. — conservative, n., adj.
2. an adherence to these principles.
3. constitutional rule or authority. — constitutionalist, n.
2. a policy advocating a restriction of political or economie relations to the countries of one continent. — continentalist, n.
2. dictatorship. Also spelled tzarism, tsarism. — czarist, n., adj.
2. the tendency to separate or cause to separate into sects or denominations. — denominationalist, n., adj.
2. the political principles, chiefly conservative and nationalistic, of de Gaulle as French president, 1959-69. — Gaullist, n., adj.
2. a policy or policies based on such factors.
3. the complex of geographical and political factors affecting or determining the nature of a state or region.
4. the study of the relationship between geography and politics, applied especially to the study of the doctrines and actions of Nazi Germany in the context of world domination. — geopolitician, n. — geopolitical, adj.
2. a strong attachment to established institutions, as political systems or religions. — institutionalist, n.
2. advocacy of this concept, — internationalist, n., adj.
2. (cap.) the policies of a 19th-century Italian party that sought to annex parts of certain neighboring regions with chiefly Italian populations. — irredentist, n., adj.
2. the principles and practice of a liberal political party. — liberalist, n., adj. — liberalistic, adj.
2. an adherence to the cause of the republic during the Spanish Civil War. — Loyalist, n., adj.
2. activity characterized by subtle cunning, duplicity, or bad faith. — Machiavellian, n., adj.
2. any attempt to restrict political criticism or individual dissent by claiming it to be unpatriotic or pro-Communist.
2. the policy of regarding military efficiency as the supreme ideal of the state, and the subordinating of all other ideals to those of the military. Also militaryism. — militarist, n. — militaristic, adj.
2. an inability to make up one’s mind, especially in politics; neutrality on controversial issues. Also mugwumpery. — mugwump, n. — mugwumpian, mugwumpish, adj.
2. a strong adherence to a party. — partyist, n.
2. the doctrine or advocacy of a passive policy, as passive resistance. — passivist, n.
2. the state or condition of a common civilization in which various ethnic, racial, or religious groups are free to participate in and develop their common cultures.
3. a policy or principle supporting such cultural plurality. — pluralist, n. — pluralistic, adj.
2. U.S. History. a doctrine, held chiefly before 1865 by antiabolitionists, that new territories should be free of federal interference in domestic matters, especially concerning slavery.
2. (cap.) the principles and doctrines of a late 19th-century American party, especially its support of agrarian interests and a silver coinage. — populist, n., adj. — populistic, adj.
2. (cap.) the doctrines and beliefs of the Progressive party in America. — progressivist, n.
2. the principles or practices of radicals. — radical, n., adj.
2. the procedures and practices based upon this theory.
3. Marxist theory. the first stage in the transition from capitalism to communism, marked by imperfect realizations of collectivist principles. — socialist, n., adj. — socialistic, adj.
2. an extreme socialist. [Allusion to Spartacus, leader of a slave revolt against Rome, 73-71 B.C.]
2. a revolutionary form or development of trade unionism, originating in France, aiming at possession and control of the means of production and distribution and the establishment of a corporate society governed by trade unions and workers’ cooperatives. — syndicalist, n. — syndicalistic, adj.
2. activities or beliefs similar to those of Tammany Hall. — Tammanyite, n., adj.
2. the theory of church policy vesting supreme ecclesiastical authority in a civil government, as in 16th-century Germany. Also called territorial system. — territorialist, n.
2. the state of fear and terror so produced. — terrorist, n., adj. — terroristic, adj.
2. an advocacy of conservative principles opposed to reform and radicalism.
3. the actions of dispossessed Irishmen in the 17th century who were declared outlaws and noted for their outrages and cruelty.
4. the principles of a conservative British party in power until 1832. — Tory, n., adj., — Toryish, adj.
2. extremist activities. — ultraist, n., adj. — ultraistic, adj.
2. behavior attempting to conceal such practices or action.
Politics/Politicians
- The body politic, like the human body, begins to die from its birth, and bears in itself the causes of its destruction —Jean Jacques Rousseau
- A cannibal is a good deal like a Democrat, they are forced to live off each other —Will Rogers, weekly newspaper article, April 14, 1929
- The Democratic party is like a man riding backward in a railroad car; it never sees anything until it has got past it —Thomas B. Reed
- The Democratic party is like a mule, without pride of ancestry or hope of posterity —Emory Storrs
- The Democrats are like someone at a funeral who just found out they won the lottery —Eleanor Clift, McLaughlin Group television show, December 28, 1986
The comparison was made during a discussion of the Iran Contra aid scandal.
- Elections … are like mosquitoes, you can’t very well fight ‘em off without cussing ‘em —Will Rogers, letter to Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1932
- In politics as in religion, it so happens that we have less charity for those who believe the half of our creed, than for those that deny the whole —Charles Caleb Colton
- In politics, as in womanizing, failure is decisive. It sheds its retrospective gloom on earlier endeavor which at the time seemed full of promise —Malcolm Muggeridge
- Like American beers, presidential candidates these days are all pretty much the same, heavily watered for blandness, and too much gas —Russell Baker
- A man running for public office is like a deceived husband; he is usually the last person to realize the true state of affairs —Robert Traver
- A man without a vote is, in this land, like a man without a hand —Henry Ward Beecher
- Merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal … gather votes like box tops —Adlai Stevenson
In his August 18, 1956 speech accepting the presidential nomination, Stevenson used this double simile to verbally shake his head at the idea that politics is just like product merchanding.
- Ministers fall like buttered bread; usually on the good side —Ludwig Boerne
- One revolution is just like one cocktail; it just gets you organized for the next —Will Rogers
- Patronage personnel are like a broken gun, you can’t make them work, and you can’t fire them —Peter Dominick, from the monthly newsletter of Senator Dominick, August, 1966
- Political elections … are a good deal like marriages, there’s no accounting for anyone’s taste —Will Rogers, weekly newspaper article, May 10, 1925
- Political rhetoric has become, like advertising, audible wallpaper, always there but rarely noticed —George F. Will
- A politician is like quick-silver; if you try to put your finger on him, you find nothing under it —Austin O’Malley
- Politicians are like drunks. We’re the ones who have to clean up after them —Bryan Forbes
- Politicians are like the bones of a horse’s foreshoulder, not a straight one in it —Wendell Phillips, 1864 speech
- Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous —Sir Winston Churchill
Churchill followed up the simile with, “In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.”
- Politics are like a labyrinth, from the inner intricacies of which it is even more difficult to find the way of escape than it was to find the way into them —William E. Gladstone
- Politics is like a circus wrestling match —Nikita S. Khrushchev
- Politics is like a race horse. A good jockey must know how to fall with the least possible damage —Edouard Herriot
- Politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it’s important —Eugene McCarthy
- Politics is like waking up in the morning. You never know whose head you will find on the pillow —Winston Churchill
- Politics, like religion, hold up the torches of martyrdom to the reformers of error —Thomas Jefferson
- Presidential appointments are left to us like bad debts after death —Janet Flanner
- Professional politicians are like chain smokers, lighting a new campaign on the butt of the old one —Steven V. Roberts, New York Times, November 24, 1986
This was the only simile in Roberts’ article. Yet, as is so often the case, it was the phrase highlighted as a boxed blurb to get reader attention.
- The public is like a piano. You just have to know what keys to poke —John Dewey
- The pursuit of politics is like chasing women: the expense is damnable, the position ridiculous, the pleasure fleeting —Robert Traver
- Running for public office was not unlike suffering a heart attack; overnight one’s whole way of life had abruptly to be changed —Robert Traver
- So long as we read about revolutions in books, they all look very nice … like those landscapes which, as artistic engravings on white vellum, look so pure and friendly —Heinrich Heine
- (They said) the range of political thinking is round, like the face of a clock —Tony Ardizzone
- A voter without a ballot is like a soldier without a bullet —Dwight D. Eisenhower, New York Times Book Review, October 27, 1957
- Watching foreign affairs is sometimes like watching a magician; the eye is drawn to the hand performing the dramatic flourishes, leaving the other hand, the one doing the important job, unnoticed —David K. Shipler, New York Times, March 15, 1987
politics
– policy – politicalThe noun politics is usually used to refer to the methods by which people get, keep, and use power in a country or society.
When politics is used like this, you can use either a singular or plural form of a verb with it. It is more common to use a singular form.
Politics can refer to a particular set of beliefs about how countries should be governed or power should be used. When you use politics like this, you use a plural form of a verb with it.
Politics can also refer to the study of the ways in which countries are governed, and of the ways in which people get and use power. When you use politics like this, you must use a singular form of a verb with it.
There is no noun 'politic'. To refer to a course of action or plan that has been agreed upon by a government or political party, use policy.
Don't use 'politic' as an adjective to mean 'relating to politics'. Use political.
Noun | 1. | ![]() social relation - a relation between living organisms (especially between people) wilderness - (politics) a state of disfavor; "he led the Democratic party back from the wilderness" |
2. | ![]() bolt - a sudden abandonment (as from a political party) politics - the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs governing, government activity, government, governance, administration - the act of governing; exercising authority; "regulations for the governing of state prisons"; "he had considerable experience of government" mandate - the commission that is given to a government and its policies through an electoral victory patronage - (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support demonstration, manifestation - a public display of group feelings (usually of a political nature); "there were violent demonstrations against the war" cabal, conspiracy - a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot) social science - the branch of science that studies society and the relationships of individual within a society geopolitics - the study of the effects of economic geography on the powers of the state practical politics, realpolitik - politics based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations catechism - a series of question put to an individual (such as a political candidate) to elicit their views nominating address, nominating speech, nomination - an address (usually at a political convention) proposing the name of a candidate to run for election; "the nomination was brief and to the point" combination - an alliance of people or corporations or countries for a special purpose (formerly to achieve some antisocial end but now for general political or economic purposes) Soviets - the government of the Soviet Union; "the Soviets said they wanted to increase trade with Europe" civilization, civilisation - a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations); "the people slowly progressed from barbarism to civilization" side - one of two or more contesting groups; "the Confederate side was prepared to attack" assassin, assassinator, bravo - a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed; "his assassins were hunted down like animals"; "assassinators of kings and emperors" muckraker, mudslinger - one who spreads real or alleged scandal about another (usually for political advantage) regular - a dependable follower (especially in party politics); "he is one of the party regulars" coattails effect - (politics) the consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same political party; "he counted on the coattails effect to win him the election" war chest - a fund accumulated to finance a war (or a political campaign) Sturm und Drang, upheaval, turbulence - a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally); "the industrial revolution was a period of great turbulence" | |
3. | politics - the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs profession - an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences) political science, politics, government - the study of government of states and other political units | |
4. | politics - the opinion you hold with respect to political questions opinion, persuasion, sentiment, thought, view - a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; "my opinion differs from yours"; "I am not of your persuasion"; "what are your thoughts on Haiti?" | |
5. | politics - the activities and affairs involved in managing a state or a government; "unemployment dominated the politics of the inter-war years"; "government agencies multiplied beyond the control of representative politics" activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" affairs - transactions of professional or public interest; "news of current affairs"; "great affairs of state" |
politics
"Politics is the art of the possible" [Prince Otto von Bismarck]
"A week is a long time in politics" [Harold Wilson]
"Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable" [John Kenneth Galbraith Ambassador's Journal]
"Politics...has always been the systematic organisation of hatreds" [Henry Brooks Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"Practical politics consists in ignoring facts" [Henry Brooks Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"In politics the middle way is none at all" [John Adams]
"In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly" [Samuel Taylor Coleridge Table Talk]
"There is a holy mistaken zeal in politics as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves" [Junius Public Advertiser]
"Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed" [Mao Tse-tung]
"Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary" [Robert Louis Stevenson Familiar Studies of Men and Books]
"Most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things" [Dr. Johnson]
"politics: a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage" [Ambrose Bierce The Devil's Dictionary]
"Politics makes strange bedfellows"