hamburger drill n.— «The fans’ favorites included the “hamburger” drills, or “Oklahomas,” as they were called in some camps. Those maneuvers involved setting up a couple of blocking dummies on the ground, confining...
unk-unk n.— «Many phrases, in fact, were culled from books and movies that depict imaginary space battles and often describe “unk-unks”—the “unknown unknowns” that no one can predict but seem likely to occur...
conehead n. a scientist; a brainy person. Also cone. Editorial Note: Probably influenced by pointy-head ‘a brainy or intellectual person.’ Despite what the 1997 citation says, this term is probably also influenced by a series of skits and a movie...
tiger team n.— «Administrator Michael Griffin said a new “tiger team” of engineers will seek solutions to the problem that brought down Columbia and continues to haunt the space agency.» —“NASA Chief Is Optimistic About...
wab n.— «You half-baked beaners should learn English, damn it! You fat, piss-drunk, chicharron-eating wabs! None of you belong here! I see a lot of wasted space in my country gesturing at his own muscular chest occupied by you wabs...
heartsink n.— «The less immense, more finite items, of a size allowing the mind to get a handhold, like nations, or space technology, or New York, are hard to think about without drifting toward heartsink.» —by Lewis Thomas The...