double-dip
UK[ˌdʌb.əl ˈdɪp]US[ˌdʌb.əl ˈdɪp]
v
To dip something a second time, especially a food item into a shared sauce or dip.
v
(informal, chiefly US) To receive two incomes or benefits from the same source, or to draw a salary from a government position while also receiving a government pension.
n
An instance of double-dipping.
Morpheme Breakdown
double
dip
double
twofold
dip
immerse
Etymology
The compound "double-dip" is a transparent modern English formation. Its literal sense builds directly on the core meanings of its components: "double," from Latin duplus (twofold), and "dip," from the Old English verb dyppan (to immerse). The term first applied to the simple, concrete act of dipping something a second time, notably in a social food context. Its figurative financial meaning emerged in mid-20th century American English as a vivid metaphor, comparing the act of drawing from two concurrent government revenue streams to unhygienically dipping a bitten chip back into a shared sauce, thus implying improper or greedy double benefit.
Analysis
Structure: double (twofold) + dip (immerse)
- double: From Latin duplus (twofold, double). A combining form indicating repetition or duality.
- dip: From Old English dyppan (to immerse, baptize). The core verb indicating the action of plunging briefly into a liquid.
Examples
It's considered poor etiquette to double-dip your chip at a party.
The senator was accused of double-dipping by collecting both a state salary and a federal pension.
The economic recession led to fears of a double-dip, where a brief recovery is followed by another decline.