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Glite Dictionary
double dipper

double dipper

1 7.5
A person who receives a government salary and a pension at the same time
  • noun
  • Literature
translation icon : doble ingreso
  • The debate over double dippers continues as more citizens question the fairness of dual government payments.

Examples

  • The local newspaper reported that many double dippers are receiving both a salary and a pension.

  • In our town, a few retired officials have become double dippers, collecting government pay from two sources.

  • We call this group our Double Dippers, and we're very big fans.

  • Hugh Farley will be a double-dipper starting next year.

    Blog text (24)

  • Nearly two dozen DCJ investigators and supervisors are "double-dippers."

    Blog text (22)

Surface Forms

double dipper singular
double dippers plural

Morphology

double + dipper

The components 'double' (twofold) and 'dipper' (one who dips) give a partial hint — it suggests a person who 'dips' twice or takes twice from the same source. However, the specific sense of receiving two government incomes depends on the metaphorical use of 'dip' = 'take/claim' (and familiarity with the compound 'double-dip'), so a B1 learner with only literal knowledge would likely not fully predict the exact financial/political meaning.

Etymology

Double dipper may come from the image of someone dipping the same chip into a shared bowl twice to get extra sauce. So, a double dipper in work or government is a person who takes 'two incomes' at the same time.