pork barrel
noun /ˈpɔːk bærəl/
/ˈpɔːrk bærəl/
(also pork)
[uncountable] (North American English, informal)- local projects that are given a lot of government money in order to win votes; the money that is used
- pork-barrel projects/spending/politics
Word Originearly 20th cent.: from the use of a barrel to keep a reserve supply of meat.