prisoner
prisoner by tudorcretu June 10, 2020
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
prisoner of the moment
1) Someone who thinks recent results will lead to the same results in the long term.
2) Someone who is focusing on something that just happened rather than the big picture.
3) Someone who's focus is narrow, focusing on the short term rather than the long term.
4) Often used as another term for "Recency bias".
2) Someone who is focusing on something that just happened rather than the big picture.
3) Someone who's focus is narrow, focusing on the short term rather than the long term.
4) Often used as another term for "Recency bias".
Billy complained that his favorite sports team's season was over after they lost a game several weeks ago, but he was just a prisoner of the moment because they actually ended up winning the Championship.
prisoner of the moment by Revel8 October 8, 2018
prisoner of fun
prisoner of fun by Dr Bunnygirl March 13, 2019
Prisoner of the Present
1. A person whose entire worldview is shaped by current events, stumbling along from one crisis to another.
2. Someone without a historical perspective or hope for the future.
3. The mindset that causes "knee-jerk" reactions to almost any kind of social or economic change.
4. A state of perpetual panic about "the world today."
2. Someone without a historical perspective or hope for the future.
3. The mindset that causes "knee-jerk" reactions to almost any kind of social or economic change.
4. A state of perpetual panic about "the world today."
Larry says the U.S. economy will never recover no matter what happens in Washington -- he's a typical Prisoner of the Present.
Prisoner of the Present by Peter Kobs June 4, 2009
prisoner's dilemma
two criminals were just caught robbing a bank. both are in prison, being questioned by police.
during the interrogations, each prisoner is offered the choice to rat on the other. if neither rats the other out, they will both be set free. if one rats the other out, the rat goes free and the one he ratted out will get a long sentence. if both rat each other out, they'll both receive a light sentence.
the prisoner's dilemma is: rat the other out? or stay silent, and hope he doesn't turn witness against you?
the logical act is to rat, even though, if nobody ratted anyone out, everyone would benefit. the individual rational act leads to a group irrational behavior.
during the interrogations, each prisoner is offered the choice to rat on the other. if neither rats the other out, they will both be set free. if one rats the other out, the rat goes free and the one he ratted out will get a long sentence. if both rat each other out, they'll both receive a light sentence.
the prisoner's dilemma is: rat the other out? or stay silent, and hope he doesn't turn witness against you?
the logical act is to rat, even though, if nobody ratted anyone out, everyone would benefit. the individual rational act leads to a group irrational behavior.
the prisoner's dilemma can be seen in daily life.
every winter, the city of chicago gets lots of snow. the city doesn't bother plowing side streets. so residents dig out their own cars. people put lawn chairs and egg crates in "their" spots after they pull out, trying to mark the public street as their private spot, since they dug it out.
the greater common good of public parking is harmed by individuals who don't work to get their streets plowed, instead turning against each other and settling for crappy dug out spots. surrounded by mud. yuck.
the prisoner's dilemma: mark the spot i dug out with egg crates? or leave it unmarked, and risk coming back to someone else's car in "my" spot? (or even worse, someone else's god damn egg crates! and this does happen.)
to work for the common good? or try to accomplish individual goals?
every winter, the city of chicago gets lots of snow. the city doesn't bother plowing side streets. so residents dig out their own cars. people put lawn chairs and egg crates in "their" spots after they pull out, trying to mark the public street as their private spot, since they dug it out.
the greater common good of public parking is harmed by individuals who don't work to get their streets plowed, instead turning against each other and settling for crappy dug out spots. surrounded by mud. yuck.
the prisoner's dilemma: mark the spot i dug out with egg crates? or leave it unmarked, and risk coming back to someone else's car in "my" spot? (or even worse, someone else's god damn egg crates! and this does happen.)
to work for the common good? or try to accomplish individual goals?
prisoner's dilemma by danagram February 21, 2009
prisoner in your own home
1. under house arrest
2. being limited from what you been doing in your own home because of overwhelming or unexpected interference, mainly from people that's too close for comfort.
2. being limited from what you been doing in your own home because of overwhelming or unexpected interference, mainly from people that's too close for comfort.
EXAMPLE: Being a prisoner in your own home can relate to anyone sticking around more than you want them to because it kills or changes where you feel the most comfortable which is at home.
prisoner in your own home by Mr. Terrence L. Trezvant March 24, 2009
prisoner b33920
prisoner b33920 by CRazyEi November 11, 2007
More from Urban Dictionary
Bunhead
A girl who does ballet and only talks about ballet. Her schedule is filled with dance classes which does not allow her to do any other activity.
trucker's tan
A sunburn or suntan focused on the left arm. It is caused by the left side of the body being the only half that gets exposed to sunlight while driving. Presumably, it would be located on the right side of the body in countries where they drive on the left side of the road.
trucker's tan by population361 May 30, 2006
Word of the Day on October 5, 2026
kidulting
Every time I walk into the toy aisle, I catch myself kidulting over the latest action figures and LEGO sets!
kidulting by Emotional Cruiser October 12, 2025
Word of the Day on October 4, 2026
Boffin
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”
Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
Pee Calculus
When you have to pee in a movie but don’t want to miss anything, and must do the following mental equation: will the amount I have to pee cause enough discomfort to diminish my attention capacity for the remainder of the movie to an extent which is greater than the amount of the movie I would miss by making a mad dash to the restroom.
Pee Calculus by anorlondo October 1, 2026
Word of the Day on October 2, 2026