Athene Airheart's definitions

burning daylight

Wasting time, hesitating when something should be done quickly. Literally, letting the day go by while you are waiting to get started.

Better get back on the road- we're burning daylight and we have a long way to go still.

by Athene Airheart March 30, 2004

Conversation hearts

A type of inexpensive candy found at Valentine's Day. They are in the shape of small pastel-colored hearts with short messages printed on them in red ink.

Some messages might include "love you," "kiss me," "U R fine," "be mine," etc. More modern candies also include "e-mail me," or "text me."

Sally was very happy when Joe gave her a box of conversation hearts.

by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004

doughboy

An old term for soldier, dating from the WWI era or possibly even earlier.

"Here come the doughboys, marching over the hill to save us."

by Athene Airheart March 20, 2004

It's my birthday

An expression of delight, accompanied by dancing around. Basically saying that the person in question is great, skilled, lucky, etc.

Ususally said in a kind of sing-song way.

"Ooooh yeah! I just won that race! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!"

by Athene Airheart March 20, 2004

elevator

Part of the empennage of an airplane.

The horizontal tail surface that controls the pitch of an airplane. The elevator makes the nose go up and down. Negative lift on the elevator surface balences the weight of the engine up front.

When I pull back on the stick, the elevator at the tail of the plane goes up. The wind flowing over the tail forces the nose up, and I climb into the sky.

by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004

spin

A rather uncomfortable aeronautical maneuver. When in an airplane, if you fly too slow and the wing gets to the wrong angle in relation to the relative wind, you will stall. If the rudder is moved in the wrong way during that stall, the airplane will turn and go into a spin.

Part of a pilot's training is to learn how to get out of stalls and spins, as they can be deadly if not stopped.

Man, I'm gonna hurl. I did eight spins today and I'm really getting dizzy. Can we go do some other maneuver next time?

by Athene Airheart May 15, 2004

toe the line

To behave according to strict rules. Sometimes an order given, especially to a child.

Somewhat archaic.

Angry father: "You'd better toe the line this time, mister, or next time I catch you tattooing your sister's name on shaved dogs you'll be grounded for a month!"

by Athene Airheart March 20, 2004