L.A. Speak : SHOP TILL YOU DROP

Annie Oakley n. gift with purchase. Perfume and makeup counters are the best A.O. hot spots.

31 flavors n. all available colors. “I bought a white shirt, then decided I wanted it in 31 flavors.”

cleaner-bag clothes n. newly purchased clothes placed in dry-cleaning bags to disguise a shopping binge.

dog in the manger n. shopper who puts items on hold all over town, preventing others from purchasing them, and then buys only one or two pieces.

black elephant n. white elephant item--something tacky and unusable--that you nevertheless would be too embarrassed to return.

blue blood n. blowout, first-rate sale. Usually an annual event.

pacifier n. credit card. “Grab your pacifiers--Fred Segal’s having a blue blood.”

bright eyes n. nice, solicitous salesperson, especially one who lets you know in advance about good buys.

Houdini hat n. absolutely unheard-of bargain: an Armani suit for $100, an Hermes crocodile handbag for $50.