A combination of keys that can be pressed to close a program quickly. The most well known
boss key is Alt+F4, this combination can close down almost all applications with some minor exceptions such as some full-screen video games. Although Alt+F4 is the standard
boss key, some other applications have other combinations as well. Most
internet browsers have another combination of
boss key, Ctrl+
W.
When a worker is on a program that he shouldn't be on. If the
boss was to simply come into the worker's office or if the worker noticed that the
boss was looming nearby, the worker could simply Alt+F4 and the application would be immediately closed. If the
boss was to look at the worker's computer, all would be well. Hence why it's called the
boss key.
The
boss key also has other benefits. If you accidentally clicked on a link to last measure (or other shock site) to close the browser window down you could press one of the two
boss keys and the browser would close.
Another boss key in Mozilla Firefox is Ctrl+Shift+W however this is a bad combination to use as a boss key for two reasons. One, if you have two or more tabs open (one containing work stuff and the rest containing the bad stuff) then Firefox puts up a dialogue box asking whether you want to save your tabs for when you next run Firefox if you have multiple tabs open so you
will have to click on one of the buttons. One second can make a difference between getting away with it and getting fired!
Worker 1: Dude, check out this hot naked chick!
Worker 2: Sweet! Hey Jimmy!
*Two minutes later*
Worker 3: Guys! The
boss is in the office next door!
Worker 2: Shit! Press the
boss key!
*Worker 1 presses Ctrl+W*
Worker 2: That was close.
*
Boss comes in and leaves. A few minutes later...*
Worker 1: Woah, hey Lee, take a look at this!
Worker 2: Wow, I
don't know they had games on here! Jimmy, keep an eye out for the
boss would you.
Worker 3: Will do!
*Five minutes later*
Worker 3: The boss is coming!
Worker 2: Boss key, boss key!
*Worker 1 presses Alt+F4*
Worker 2: That was close.
