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city
sanctuary city
A US city that protects undocumented immigrants through limited involvement or cooperation with federal immigration regulations or authorities. Primarily heard in US. That new immigration law threatens to jeopardize sanctuary cities.
city slicker
someone from the city who is not familiar with country ways. Them city slickers think we're stupid just because we talk different. The city slicker didn't know the first thing about fishing for trout.
(You) can't fight city hall.
Fig. There is no way to win in a battle against a bureaucracy. Bill: I guess I'll go ahead and pay the tax bill. Bob: Might as well. You can't fight city hall. Mary: How did things go at your meeting with the zoning board? Sally: I gave up. Can't fight city hall.
cardboard city
an area of a large city where many people without a home sleep outside
Usage notes: Cardboard is a type of thick, stiff paper used to make the type of boxes that people living outside sometimes sleep in to keep warm.
Young people come to the capital full of hope and end up in cardboard city. can't fight City Hall
Unable to overcome bureaucratic rules, as in Brad couldn't get a permit without going through channels-you can't fight City Hall! This term transfers the seat of city government to a more general sense of bureaucracy in any sphere. [Mid-1800s]
fat city
Also,
Fat City. A condition or circumstance marked by considerable prosperity or having a superior advantage. For example,
With that new job she'll be in fat city. [
Slang; 1960s] Also see
easy street.
Barf City
n. someone or something disgusting or undesirable. (Barf = vomit.) The guy is so gross! Just plain Barf City!
cement city
n. a cemetery. I’m too young to end up in cement city.
fat city
1. n. a state of wealth and comfort; easy street. She’s living in fat city ever since she inherited her fortune.
2. n. fatness (expressed as a place). I’ve had it with fat city. I’m going on a diet.
Headstone City
n. a cemetery. Our house is just one block after the large Headstone City on the left.
marble orchard
and Marble City n. a cemetery. I already bought a little plot in a marble orchard. There is a huge Marble City south of town.
Marble City
verbYou can’t fight city hall
sent. You cannot fight a bureaucracy. You can’t fight city hall. Pay the parking ticket and forget it.
go fight city hall
The futility of challenging entrenched politicians or establishment. Although sounding like a call to action, the phrase means that any effort to succeed against bureaucracy is doomed to failure. It was popularized, although not coined, in the book Go Fight City Hall by Ethel Rosenberg, who with her husband Julius was later executed after being convicted of spying for Russia.