blue moon

Originally, in a season in which four full moons occurred, the blue moon was the third of these.

In 1946, an error in the magazine *Sky and Telescope* led to the term referring to the second blue moon in a month.

Today, the phrase 'blue moon' is used to refer to an event that happens quite rarely. Interestingly, by either of the definitions given above, it would ean something that occurs on average every 2.5 years.

There'll be a blue moon in a few weeks.

I watch soap operas once in a blue moon.

by Darth Ridley March 01, 2007

RAG week

RAG week - the RAG stands for 'Raising And Giving,' 'Raise A Grand,' or general funness depending on who you ask. Whatever it is, it is theoretically supposed to be about students raising money for charity in various creative ways, while having fun at the same time.

Increasingly, however, it is simply a week-long orgy of alcohol.

Damo: Doing anything for RAG week?
Bob: I'm gonna get totally pissed on Guinness and shrooms.
Damo: Sweet! What about you, Jack?
Jack: I'm thinking of doing a spinsored bungee jump and giving the money to Oxfam...Say, would you guys sponsor me.
Damo and Bob: No way! We need that money to get wasted!

by Darth Ridley November 12, 2006

citation circle

A group of academics who exclusively cite each other and nobody else.

Rare in science, but surprisingly common in arts and humanities.

Mary's research on sexuality in Victorian times ran into a snag when she hit a citation circle and couldn't get out.

by Darth Ridley January 06, 2007

mess entropy

Mess entropy refers to the tendency of a room to naturally become less tidy as time progresses. May be expressed mathematically as:

dE=dM/t

where E is the mess entropy, M is the actual amount of mess, and t is a given time interval.

Regardless of a room's size, mess entropy will expand to fill it.

by Darth Ridley March 06, 2007

microskirt

A skirt which is longer than a belt but shorter than a miniskirt; in other words, 5-8cm long.

The microskirt is the semi-official dress code for 14-year-old girls at discos.

by Darth Ridley September 17, 2006

bog

An area of sense, highly acidic soil formed from the decay over millions of years of various forests. The source of turf. Were once common in Europe, but are now found mainly in Ireland.

Let's go down to the bog and get some turf.

by Darth Ridley November 07, 2006

gaa

Sports organised by the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), notably hurling and gaelic football.

I like gaa, but the GAA has a habit of ruining it.

by Darth Ridley March 25, 2007