ghost in the machine

When software or hardware is made to complete a specific function, but a small percentage of the tasks completed have an unexpected result which cannot be explained.

I launched the game a million times through that shortcut, but this time it didn't launch for some reason... must be a ghost in the machine.

ghost in the machine by daidalus January 1, 2014

Get merch

Get the ghost in the machine mug.

See more merch

Ghost in the Machine

A phantom sleeper virus installed on every single PC when it is made. Exactly 2 years after you activate your new PC, the Ghost in the Machine awakens and takes over, slowly destroying it until it no longer turns on.

Symptoms of a Ghost in the Machine include: flickering, forgetfulness, random restarts, a frozen screen comorbid with a persistent hourglass, and random deletion of important files. You may also encounter multiple "errors" and be asked to solve problems you don't know how to solve. Customer support usually pleads ignorance when you call their 1-800 number.

Teacher: "Where is your homework?"
Student: "The Ghost in the Machine spooked it and I can't find it now."

Ghost in the Machine by BethanyGM February 7, 2010

Get merch

Ghost in the Machine

An unwitnessed fart left in an elevator for the next rider.

It was an awkward elevator ride from the 12th to 18th floor when the boss got on with me and the ghost in the machine.

Ghost in the Machine by AbuEm July 10, 2023

Get merch

the ghost in the machine

An ambiguous phrase to describe illogical or unexpected computational behavior that may or may not be caused by some level of sentience be it maintained within the system or at the PEBKAC layer.

Sally couldn't explain why her computer would not work, then as soon as she called IT the machine started working again. IT blamed it on the ghost in the machine

the ghost in the machine by midstoveilan November 18, 2013

Get merch

Stealthie

when you're holding up your phone and making faces at it, as though you are taking a selfie, but you're really taking a picture of the person across from you or the wall or anything else that seems interesting but you don't want to be caught dead taking a picture of.

This action is often made more convincing by wiggling the eyebrows or opening the mouth, to pretend you're trying to get a Snapchat filter to work.

FRIEND A: "Did you just take a stealthie of me?"

FRIEND B (turning phone around): "no I was just using snapchat's new filter, see?"

Stealthie by gwenhyfar October 2, 2016

Word of the Day on May 25, 2026

Get merch

Summer Teeth

When someone has a lot of missing teeth.

Mannn, that dude has summer teeth!
What do you mean?
Summer here, summer there...

Summer Teeth by BeckPot August 2, 2012

Word of the Day on May 24, 2026

Get merch

Grindset

The grindset is a contemporary ideology of self-exploitation disguised as strength, deeply tied to the aesthetics of the “sigma male” and to new digital forms of patriarchy. It promotes the idea that human worth depends on productivity, economic success, absolute emotional control, and the ability to work endlessly, turning vulnerability, rest, community, and tenderness into signs of weakness. Beneath its rhetoric of discipline and power often lies a profound inability to relate healthily to pain, fragility, and human interdependence.

“That’s the grindset, brother. While weak men sleep and complain, sigma males stay disciplined, work in silence, suppress emotions, and build power while everyone else wastes time chasing comfort.”

Grindset by Omega-Male May 22, 2026

Word of the Day on May 23, 2026

Get merch