In "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," the ultra-computer, "Deep Thought," is asked to give "the meaning of Life, The Universe and Everything." After a very long time calculating, Deep Thought declares the answer is "Forty-Two," which mystifies everyone.
Douglas Adams, the author of the "Hitchhiker" series, was familiar with computer programming. The symbol for a "wild card" -- a value that can be whatever the programmer desires and/or what the program needs to run -- is the "asterisk," which is this symbol * , sometimes called the "star" symbol."
In the American Standard Code for Instructional Interchange, or "ASCII," the "asterisk" is symbol number "42." Thus, "42" became a programmers' inside joke meaning "whatever you want it to be." Deep Thought could have said given its answer as, "anything" or "whatever you want it to be," but being a computer, it gave the ASCII code number, instead.
Douglas Adams, the author of the "Hitchhiker" series, was familiar with computer programming. The symbol for a "wild card" -- a value that can be whatever the programmer desires and/or what the program needs to run -- is the "asterisk," which is this symbol * , sometimes called the "star" symbol."
In the American Standard Code for Instructional Interchange, or "ASCII," the "asterisk" is symbol number "42." Thus, "42" became a programmers' inside joke meaning "whatever you want it to be." Deep Thought could have said given its answer as, "anything" or "whatever you want it to be," but being a computer, it gave the ASCII code number, instead.
"I have an answer," Deep Thought said, "though I don't think you're going to like it."
"What is it?" asked the mice?
"The answer is....is...is...Forty-Two!"
Vroomfondle asked, "Is that it? What is THAT supposed to mean?"
Programmer 1: I'm going out for a burger, you want something?
Programmer 2: Sure.
Programmer 1: Okay, what do you want.
Programmer 2: Oh, I'm not sure. Get me Forty-Two.
"What is it?" asked the mice?
"The answer is....is...is...Forty-Two!"
Vroomfondle asked, "Is that it? What is THAT supposed to mean?"
Programmer 1: I'm going out for a burger, you want something?
Programmer 2: Sure.
Programmer 1: Okay, what do you want.
Programmer 2: Oh, I'm not sure. Get me Forty-Two.
by The Third Jay Guy January 27, 2019
Get the Forty-Twomug. by Femme boy October 15, 2020
Get the Two cansmug. by bekaz April 2, 2014
Get the two in the cockpitmug. 
A type of aids that you can only get for two days. The cure was found in 2011 by a student science club, called Aids 2.
by trashemail December 2, 2011
Get the two daidsmug. by darkangel_1004 January 7, 2021
Get the Two teenmug. Tasmanian slang, often said by cannabis-smokers from Northwest Tasmania. Refers to having two cones (US: bowls) in a row, generally before passing the bong to the next person.
by InDedede January 9, 2022
Get the Tassie Twomug.