case of liberalitis
- noun
- Offensive
:
caso de 'liberalitis' [ofensivo]
- Critics dismissed the reforms as nothing more than a classic case of liberalitis.
Examples
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Some commentators accused the mayor of having a case of liberalitis when he proposed the new regulations.
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We are witnessing a serious case of liberalitis in the media.
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Whenever social issues come up, he seems to develop a sudden case of liberalitis.
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That proposal is just another case of liberalitis!
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Many voters believe the senator's proposal to increase taxes is a classic case of liberalitis.
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After hearing her friend's arguments for more welfare programs, I realized she had developed a case of liberalitis.
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The professor warned his students about the dangers of a case of liberalitis during debates about free speech.
Synonyms
Supporting new ideas and personal freedom
Antonyms
How Liberal
Surface Forms
Morphology
case + of + liberalitis
The phrase is a humorous coinage built from 'case of' + 'liberal' + the pseudo-suffix '-itis' (a disease/inflammation marker), so the idea of an excessive or pathological preoccupation with liberal ideas is partly recoverable from the parts. However, many B1 learners may not recognize the playful '-itis' formation or its metaphorical use, so the connection is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase case of liberalitis is a joking use of doctor words: liberal (ideas about freedom and fairness) plus -itis, a doctor ending that shows a 'sickness'. So saying someone has a case of liberalitis means they are 'sick' with too many liberal ideas, and people use it to make fun of someone who cares too much about liberal policies.