habeas grabus 

A term (coined by Tunch Ilken, Craig Wolfley, and possibly even Myron Cope) referring to the penalty of 'holding' in football. Its use often correlates to the severity of the penalty. For example, 'habeas grabus' would be used in situations where the penalty is less detrimental to the Steelers, like any game in which the Steelers are playing the Browns. No matter how many holding penalties get called against the Steelers, Cleaveland is not going to win. This is true for almost any other team in the NFL who plays the Browns. However, the holding penalty called against Justin Hartwig in Superbowl XLIII that resulted in a safety and almost cost the Steelers a 6th superbowl title would probably be met with a reaction such as "Fuck!" or "If the ref had one more eye, he'd be a cyclops!" or even "I'm so shit-faced, I don't even know who's playing right now".

Tunch- "The Steelers have comitted a lot of penalties in the red zone today."

Wolf- "Yeah, Willie Colon commited habeas grabus so Tomlin had to settle for a field goal."

habeas grabus by COXICLE December 3, 2009

habeas grabus 

A term (coined by Tunch Ilken, Craig Wolfley, and possibly even Myron Cope) referring to the penalty of 'holding' in football. Its use often correlates to the severity of the penalty. For example, 'habeas grabus' would be used in situations where the penalty is less detrimental to the Steelers, like any game in which the Steelers are playing the Browns. No matter how many holding penalties get called against the Steelers, Cleaveland is not going to win. This is true for almost any other team in the NFL who plays the Browns. However, the holding penalty called against Justin Hartwig in Superbowl XLIII that resulted in a safety and almost cost the Steelers a 6th superbowl title would probably be met with a reaction such as "Fuck!" or "If the ref had one more eye, he'd be a cyclops!" or even "I'm so shit-faced, I don't even know who's playing right now".

Tunch- "The Steelers have comitted a lot of penalties in the red zone today."

Wolf- "Yeah, Willie Colon commited habeas grabus so Tomlin had to settle for a field goal."

habeas grabus by COXICLE December 3, 2009

Habeus Grabus

"Habeus Grabus" is a law enforcement colloquialism that is a play on the legal term "Habeus Corpus" (a writ/legal action/legal principle, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention,specifically a detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence). While "Habeus Corpus" infers an arrest or detention is unlawful due to a lack of evidence, "Habeus Grabus" infers that an arrest and detention is lawful, has solid evidence and meets the legal requirements needed to press charges.

The trooper put the"Habeus Grabus" on that guy after he failed his field sobriety tests and blew a .104. -or- I put the "Habeus Grabus" on that dirtbag and gave him a free pair of matching stainless steel bracelets before I took him to booking. -or- That cop put the "Habeus Grabus" on that occupier who spit on him.

Habeus Grabus by SirBeavis December 15, 2011