JRob's definitions

bear bait

On a highway, car that passes you going way over the posted speed limit. If there is a speed trap ahead, he will get caught instead of you. See also cop cleaner. The bear part comes from "Smokey The Bear" - shortened to "Bear" - old CB'er term for a highway patrol officer because of their rather distictive headgear which resembles a national park ranger's hat.

Trucker 1: "Breaker, breaker - Jimmy, I gotta make up some time - any Bears around? Over."
Trucker 2: "Not seen any, Peter - but that young buck blew by us in the Eclipse musta been doing about 90. Bear bait fer sure. Over."

by JRob September 19, 2005

familymoon

A honeymoon in which the bride and groom also bring their children from previous marriages.

With three birthdays, a wedding and a "familymoon," we've had a lot of celebrations in our family lately.

by JRob October 7, 2005

Po-tay-to po-tah-to

Taken from the Louis Armstrong Lyrics to "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off":
"You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off."
Used by somebody comparing two things that are essentially interchangeable or two words for the same thing.

Republicans - Right-wing crooks. Po-tay-to po-tah-to.

by JRob August 8, 2005

bait car

A vehicle, monitored by the police, that is used to tempt a car thief into stealing it.

The Vancouver police operate with "bait cars" to trap car thieves. The vehicles, equipped with disabling devices and global-positioning equipment, are parked in a lot where thieves have been active. The bait-car program is well known to car thieves, who consider the practice unsporting,

by JRob November 18, 2005

ransom factor

The tendency for one party in a civil case to settle out of court to avoid the potentially high cost of fighting the case.

Newspaper publishers, when faced with a potential libel case, often try to settle out of court by paying a ransom factor rather than take their chances with a jury trial.

by JRob November 3, 2005

rumint

"rumor intelligence" - iIntelligence information based on rumors rather than facts.

Much of the Bush administration's evidence for Iraq's reconstituted nuclear program, thriving chemical-biological development program, and active Iraqi link with Al Qaeda was based on what intelligence analysts call "rumint."

by JRob October 28, 2005

midair passenger exchange

Seen on blogs, this is grim air-traffic-controller speak for a head-on collision. Midair passenger exchanges are quickly followed by "aluminum rain".

Controller 1: Man, THAT was a close call!
Controller 2: Yeah - we almost had a midair passenger exchange!

by JRob January 1, 2012