michigan handshake

[Jesse T Sheidlower]

>         "If she goes back on her word, give her a Michigan handshake and
> start looking for [her replacement]."
>         I'm not familiar with this term, and don't find it in RHHDAS.  If it
> is at all widespread, I wouldn't doubt that there are variants.  The
> phrase a "Michigan bankroll" -- the largest bill one can lay hands
> on, wrapped around as many single one can muster -- is known to me as
> a "Coney Island bankroll".

Ann Landers had previously used the term in a column and had gotten
letters asking what it meant, and then devoted another column (or
more) to a discussion of the term. I'm fairly sure we had discussed
it on ADS-L at the time.

Jesse Sheidlower
<jester at panix.com>