(n.) The defacto gold star standard for delivering products and/or services within a projected timeframe. Derived from the original Star Trek series wherein Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott consistently made the seemingly impossible happen just in time to save the crew of the Enterprise from disaster.
The premise is simple:
1) Caluculate average required time for completion of given task.
2) Depending on importance of task, add 25-50% additional time to original estimate.
3) Report and commit to inflated time estimate with superiors, clients, etc.
4) Under optimal conditions the task is completed closer to the original time estimate vs. the inflated delivery time expected by those waiting.
The premise is simple:
1) Caluculate average required time for completion of given task.
2) Depending on importance of task, add 25-50% additional time to original estimate.
3) Report and commit to inflated time estimate with superiors, clients, etc.
4) Under optimal conditions the task is completed closer to the original time estimate vs. the inflated delivery time expected by those waiting.
The following situation is a simulation of the Scotty Principle in practice.
Kirk: "The ship seems sluggish today. When was the last time you did a tune-up on the warp drive?"
Scotty: "Aye, sir. She's due. Last maintenance was 56 days ago."
Kirk: (light chuckle) "Well, what are you waiting for? An ambush from cloaked Romulans?"
Scotty: "I'll need to check how much dilithium we have in supply, but she'll be better than new in no time."
Kirk: "And that will be...?"
Scotty: "Six hours."
--- four hours later ---
Scotty: "All done, sir. Care to test her out?"
--- Enterprise taken rapidly to warp 3, does a few doughnuts, comes to a smooth stop ---
Kirk: "Scotty, there's no finer engineer in this quadrant!"
Kirk: "The ship seems sluggish today. When was the last time you did a tune-up on the warp drive?"
Scotty: "Aye, sir. She's due. Last maintenance was 56 days ago."
Kirk: (light chuckle) "Well, what are you waiting for? An ambush from cloaked Romulans?"
Scotty: "I'll need to check how much dilithium we have in supply, but she'll be better than new in no time."
Kirk: "And that will be...?"
Scotty: "Six hours."
--- four hours later ---
Scotty: "All done, sir. Care to test her out?"
--- Enterprise taken rapidly to warp 3, does a few doughnuts, comes to a smooth stop ---
Kirk: "Scotty, there's no finer engineer in this quadrant!"
by fugitive247 September 05, 2005
by Jim T May 23, 2003
When someone claims to have bought a round of drinks at a bar when they were actually free from the bartender. This usually occurs on pool league night, and was Started by a cheap dirtbag named Scotty E back in the early 1990's. The term is now mostly used as a punch line.
When picking up the free round from the bartenter you tell your team mates - "Hey everyone, I just got the Scotty round!"
by Scotty E October 07, 2007
*A thicker girl walk on stage at a strip club* someone yells “where’s Scotty” now everyone knows a larger woman is in the room.
by SeeJaneTwerk August 19, 2022
noun, adjective: A word evolved from the all time great Chicago Bull, Scottie Pippen: If someone is slackin, trippin, failin, or on tilt; straight wack
by C--Nooch5 April 06, 2011
Bringing down the house , Blowing money fast , Balling the hardest in the whole club and/or selling massive amounts of drugs while partying, buying new cars and jewelry you are going Scotty. Also Being extremely geeked up while doing all the above you are going scotty.
Vin: Hey whats up with that guy and his large amount of cash
Ed: He must be going scotty
Vin: O word he got it like that?
Ed: Hes going scotty.
Ed: He must be going scotty
Vin: O word he got it like that?
Ed: Hes going scotty.
by GucciScotty February 17, 2012
The best cross country runner in the world because of his third leg schlong. He will smash anyone and has COUNTLESS BODIES!! He will beat anyone up who even looks at him. DONT FUCK WIT DA SCOTTY P!
by Bonga_lover3000 June 02, 2020