Four Minute Warning

A warning of an impending Nuclear attack on the United Kingdom, which would be given if one was detected by Radar at RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire. During the Cold War, The British Government estimated that if an air attack was launched from the then Soviet Union, there would only be four minutes to respond (possibly even less).

What would happen was if an attack was confirmed, the warning would be given either by RAF High Wycombe (Near London) or Longley Lane (Near Preston). This would be forwarded to Fighter command, the police and the media.

The Police would get the message, "Attack Warning RED" over the same telephone lines as thosed used for the Speaking Clock, then activate the air attack sirens over local telephone lines. The rationale was that in using the speaking clock, it cut running costs and allowed a fault to be detected in time to give a warning.

The media would simultaneously interrupt programming to transmit a warning message teling the public to take cover, which was to be broadcast on all television and Radio stations. The actual message itself was recorded by the chief continuity announcer of BBC Radio 4, Peter Donaldson. It was accompianied by "Dalek" music and strong pulses of light. The existence of this warning message was officially confirmed by the British government on New Years Day 2006, even though it was an open secret in the BBC.

The Four Minute Warning was much derided by critics as completely pointless, as surviving a nuclear strike was neither possible or desireable.

by Chris Henniker May 26, 2006

four block

four block is a word to describe someone who always lets you down or is never there when you need them.

this word originated from the game tetris, the streight "four block" that never seems to come when you need it.

You didn't pick me up from school, your such a four block

by Fakesanta March 18, 2008

Four

1. A number that comes after 3, and before 5. Duh.

2. A character from the blockbuster series "Divergent"(In my opinion, the best). In the book, he is Tris Prior's instructor in Dauntless (one of the factions in the city) initiation, but as the book goes on he eventually falls in love with her. His name is then found out to be Tobias Eaton, but his nickname is Four because he only has four fears; heights, confinement, shooting an innocent person, and his father abusing him. He is portrayed by Theo James (<3) in the movie released on March 21st in USA, April 4th in UK.

1. Person: How old are u?

Person 2: I am 4 years old.

2. Four: Welcome to Dauntless.

by _mymy_xx March 11, 2014

four letter word

Another name for a swear word, which commonly, but not necessarily needs to consists of four letters.

Person A: Hey, i saw this guy yesterday and he said 'hi', then i said 'hey' and we started a conversation.
Person B: That was me you fucking moron!
Person A: Ok ok, no need for the four letter words.
Person b: Huh?..........."That"????

by Blackington September 11, 2006

two by four

A skinny woman who was no breasts or ass.

Your girlfriend is like a two by four, skinny and flat on both sides.

by bfb August 23, 2012

cherry six-four

Pimped out car. Red sixty four impala

I put gold Daytonas on that Cherry Six Four

by Lil Herc June 18, 2005

Four-Stemmed E

Strategy when playing uncle worm where one creates a vertical line down one side and then proceeds to go back up the map alternating turns to create an "e" like shape, only with four stems instead of three.

"Holy forsheezy my heezy, i just got in the 500-club on uncle worm!"

"that's tite my gangster friend, how did you go about reaching that tubular score, did you use the four-stemmed E tactic? or did you use the vertical squeeze?"

"I four stemmed it all the way my g-unit homey!"

by Medium-level-God April 26, 2004