In older piece-rate typesetting, this was a nickname for copy that contained extensive blank spaces, short lines, or simple layouts. Because compositors were paid by the line or page, these jobs required less physical type to set but yielded the same pay as dense text. It allowed a typesetter to earn their wage with much less physical effort.
Heard on the job
Give me that poetry manuscript, it's pure grease and I want an easy afternoon at the case.
Insider tip
This term faded out of use when hot metal and piece-rate pay disappeared from the trade.
Also heard as
- fat