if-by-whiskey

English

Etymology

Refers to a 1952 speech by Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat Jr. during a debate on whether or not Mississippi should legalize alcoholic beverages. He prefaced his qualified agreement with each side in turn with the formula "if by whiskey you mean..." and a definition of "whiskey" crafted to support that side.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪf baɪ ˈwɪski/, /ˌɪf baɪ ˈʍɪski/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Adjective

if-by-whiskey (not comparable)

1. (US, politics, of a speech, etc.) That equivocates on an issue while appearing to affirm both sides, by asserting that each is correct depending on which of two stated alternatives is used as the definition of a key term.
   • 2010, Carol Phillip-Tudor, The Boy, The Professor and Ella's Regret, Dorrance Publishing Company (RoseDog Books), page 103,

     "You a foolin' nary a soul, mister Emil" says Bilky. "I's thinkin' maybe yourin a usin' the If-by-Whiskey defense. […] "