phrases

[tavi74]

what is the origin of the phrase "pork barelling"

[geofbob]

"Pork barreling" is an American idiom meaning the action by the government of spending money in a particular area - for example on infrastructure projects - to make themselves more popular with, or to show gratitude to, the voters in that location. It is supposed to derive from the practice among US slave-owners of doling out salted pork from a barrel to those slaves who had behaved well.