biohertz's definitions

automagically

Automatically, but in a way that, for some reason (typically because it is too complicated, or too ugly, or perhaps even too trivial), the speaker doesn't feel like explaining to you.

This term is quite old, going back at least to the mid-70s in jargon and probably much earlier. The word `automagic' occurred in advertising (for a shirt-ironing gadget) as far back as the late 1940s.

"The C-INTERCAL compiler generates C, then automagically invokes cc(1) to produce an executable."

by Biohertz January 30, 2003

bang on

To stress-test a piece of hardware or software

"I banged on the new version of the simulator all day yesterday and it didn't crash once. I guess it is ready for release."

by Biohertz January 30, 2003

clippy

The annoying paperclip (office assistant) that appears in Microsoft Office.

"Turn that fucking paperclip off!!!"

by Biohertz January 30, 2003