Clawback

A recent article in The New York Times business section, about Bernard L. Madoff (was he born with the right name or what?), said the following:

"Although customers who received substantially more from their Madoff account than they put in may be required to return the excess money -- a step called a clawback -- the trustee and his lawyer repeatedly tried to reassure the audience that it would not be practical for them to seek clawbacks of small amounts from customers of limited means."

Ahem.

Clawback. Just where to begin? (Who isn't of limited means these days?)

I predict the word clawback will be in the running for Word of the Year, 2009.

(Last year, I picked tranche.)

And why not?

Think of the myriad applications of clawback, with its rich imagery and motherlode of metaphorical mayhem.

The divorce lawyer wished to insert a clawback clause on behalf of her client.

Cosmopolitan magazine headline: "Cuddly? Or Clawback? 5 Hot Ways to Get There!"

He's showing some clawback in his swing.

They thought his political prospects were damaged, but he's got clawback written all over him.

The owners are demanding clawback from his huge contract after such terrible stats.

"What's your favorite little thing?" he whispered. "Clawback, baby," she murmured huskily.