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.
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 20, 2006
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"????
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
by Lil Herc February 16, 2005
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!"
"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
Noun, plural: Women who are only ever seen in their chelsea tractors.
Works best when pronounced in the 'Jonathon Woss' estuarine english style so it sounds like an Essex person trying to say 'four-wheel-drives'.
Works best when pronounced in the 'Jonathon Woss' estuarine english style so it sounds like an Essex person trying to say 'four-wheel-drives'.
by McCririck's unlucky Laundress September 11, 2005
Is a word to describe grabbing the nearest person to you at the end of a night out when you have not got with anyone decent with the idea of having sex with them
Dude its nearly closing time the dj has just put on dont stop believing you better get a four o'clock shuffle quick!
by Crennaldo July 18, 2009
The tendency of otherwise straight girls to decide that they're gay during their time at Smith College, only to realize that they're not shortly after graduation. See also smithies
I knew this great, beautiful girl who went to Smith. I had a huge crush on her, but she was gay...or so we thought. Turns out she was on the four-year-plan, and now she's in New York and has a *boyfriend*!
by Beebo McSnark April 18, 2003