(BUSINESS) when a corporate raider attempts to take control of a corporation against the will of the management. Takeover requires a leveraged buyout typically financed with junk bonds.

HOW IT WORKS
The corporate raider requires a takeover vehicle to launch a hostile takeover. The takeover vehicle is usually another corporation controlled by the raider, although in recent years ESOPs have been used (e.g., Tribune Corp., 2007). The vehicle buys up a lot of shares of the target company's stock on the market, then announces it wants to acquire a controlling interest.

Management opposes the takeover bid. It can (a) challenge the legality of the takeover, (b) adopt a charter that makes it hard for the takeover vehicle to run the company it's proposing to buy (a poison pill), (c) seek another buyer that is more favorable (a white knight), or (d) borrow a ton of money and buy so many shares that the stock price goes up.

The raider makes a tender offer for the shares he doesn't own. At a certain point, he may acquire sufficient control that he can legally challenge the target's management to step down.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG
The management can use (a) or (b) successfully, or it can use (e), viz., launch a hostile takeover bid of the target vehicle. The raider can lose of lot of money if a lot of shareholders have accepted his tender offer.

Prior to 1980, the hostile takeover was unknown; banks would never lend money for such a scheme. For one thing, the risks were ridiculous. For another, "success" would hurt way too many people.

Everything changed when Michael Milken revolutionized the junk bond market, allowing raiders to attempt deals that violated sound business judgment. The defeated company was compelled to pay for its own conquest.

hostile takeover by Sorry, the good guys lost September 4, 2010

user-hostile

A play on the common term "user-friendly", a user-hostile design is one that is, deliberately or accidentally, difficult or cumbersome for the intended user.

Often used derisively to describe the competition.

We intend to improve upon the user-hostile design of your existing sales tool.

Some say that the user-hostile design of the original QWERTY keyboard was an intentional effort to slow typists down so as not to allow them to jam the mechanical parts.

user-hostile by jfkelley June 16, 2009

Hostile Intent

A Half Life mod thats slightly more realistic than the current average Half Life mod.
Has no Health or Ammo indicators and no cross-hair, instead the player is required to use the guns iron sights to aim. Also only one or two bullets is required from any gun to kill.
Just like real life, oh yes, and it finally came out.

Hey look it's that Hostile Intent game that finally came out, its slow, methodical, and reasonably fun to play. Unlike all this mindless deathmatch thats been going around lately.

Hostile Intent by anonymous March 30, 2004

Hostile Resting Face

Also know a HRF. A condition when ones face is in a permanent state of anger, disgust, or irritation when in the resting position. Although this may not reflect the true feelings or attitude of the person, they may appear as unapproachable.

Girl: Mom, why are you so angry, whats wrong??
Mom: Nothing... why?
Dad: Don't you realize your mother has a Hostile Resting Face (HRF)??

Whats wrong with that guy?
Nothing really, he just has a Hostile Resting Face

Hostile Resting Face by J-DiggityDog January 25, 2014

Hostile City

The nick name of the city Philadelphia. Named for the hostility of it's residents.

I heard he lives over in Hostile City.

Hostile City by Van Damage February 6, 2010

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026

city chicken

A food native to Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania in which cubes of pork and/or veal are put on a short, wooden skewer, breaded, then baked and/or fried.

I've heard that city chicken originated during the Great Depression, when folks didn't have enough money to buy full cuts of meat, so they assembled meat scraps on a wooden skewer, creating a make-shift drumstick. Hence the name.

Are yinz havin' city chicken for dinner?

city chicken by TRF August 31, 2006

Word of the Day on September 17, 2026

Is that cake?

Another way to say is this fake? Like the show real or cake

“Slayyyter just announced another album last night”
“No way, is that cake?”
“Yeah whoops this isn’t real”

Is that cake? by Sexyyred September 15, 2026

Word of the Day on September 16, 2026

just fokin missing her

native american reservation origin... to miss an ex so badly that everyone can see it.. can be used for either sex eg. just fokin missing her/him

friend : *noticably sad*
me : look at you all sad & shit
friend : shut up!
me : just fokin missing her huh?

just fokin missing her by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 15, 2026

endwarfins

The rush of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides triggered specifically by watching the Seven Dwarfs march home singing "Heigh-Ho" — that particular high of pickaxes, whistling while you work, and communal domestic bliss in a cottage built for men half your height.

I only meant to watch the Heigh-Ho scene for the endwarfins, and then it was two hours later and I'd watched the whole movie.

Endwarfins aren't just a Snow White thing — I get the same hit off the Lollipop Guild in Oz.

endwarfins by Howard Ogden September 13, 2026

Word of the Day on September 14, 2026

caillou

A slang term used to describe a bald person, typically someone who is completely bald or has a closely shaved head. The term is derived from the infamous, hairless kids’ cartoon character of the same name.

Example 1:
“Did you see that caillou over there? His head is reflecting the sun like a disco ball.”
Example 2:
“I think Dave is finally accepting his hair loss. He just went full caillou and shaved the whole thing off.”

caillou by WMH01 September 12, 2026

Word of the Day on September 13, 2026