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twinkie defense
Definition
Term for an unlikely, desperate legal defense. The phrase is found in popular culture and is not a legal term.
Context : Law, Popular Culture Category: Lexicon, Vernacular Semantic:
The term "twinkie defense" was coined by a reporter covering the Dan White trial in 1979 (San Francisco, CA). In the trial, a defense lawyer persuaded the jury to believe that White was mentally incapable of premeditated murder because his consumption of junk food (e.g., "twinkies" and other sugar-filled processed foods) caused mood swings. White was convicted of manslaughter in the 1978 assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone.
Usage of “twinkie defense”
The twinkie defense worked in the past, why won't it work now?
It will take more than a twinkie defense to get off of these charges.
Related Idioms
Examples of idiom “twinkie defense” from Twitter
vickigundrum:I'm guilty of something and I'm using the twinkie defense.
JonathanYoungs:just got pretty emotional watching the end of Milk. Also, the twinkie defense. Really!? Ridiculous.