Country Dictionary

When something is so badly damaged that the only option is to get a new one; it might be a critical component, or the whole thing.

"Can you fix it ?"

"No. Your hard drive is screwed. Total replacement therapy is indicated."

"Bugger !"

Running a piece of equipment, most often an engine or other powerplant, way beyond it's rated maximum, usually in an emergency situation.

Usually, denoted by taking the engine revs or temperature up into the red area on an indicator dial, risking permanent damage or catastrophic failure.

"How fast will that thing go ?"

"One fifty five, but after one forty you'll be redlining"

A model of motorcycle manufactured by Harley Davidson

"What's that bike ?"

"Owwwww ... that's an original Electra Glide .... monkey see, monkey want ..."

1. A minor fight or fracas, usually in a drinking establishment or other place of public entertainment. The actual level of violence is low, due to the participants being inept, inebriated or both. Hence the incident is entertaining rather than frightening to the onlookers.

"I was in <drinking establishment> last night - there was a terrific floor show. Some drunk guy got chucked out by the doormen."

One who, while dressed in brightly coloured silly clothes and an inadequate helmet, rides a (racing) bicycle (often in heavy urban or rush-hour traffic) at high speed and without signls, as if they have no interest in their own safety or that of others, and genuinely wish to die as soon as possible in a multi-vehicle collision of their own making. They invariably look offended if forced to give way to cars, whatever the circumstances. See also kamikaze.

"I nearly got T-boned by a Suicyclist running a red light in my way in this morning".

In the original Star Trek series, whenever the main engines (warp drive) broke down (which was pretty frequent) the Enterprise would only be able to move using "impulse engines" - a low power, sub-lightspeed manouvering system based on a small fusion ram/ion drive.

By inference, someone described as "running on impilse engines" or "impulse power only" is either:

1. Very tired (a.k.a. 'running on empty')

2. Genuinely ill

3. (derog.) Slow and/or stupid.

"Jesus, I've just had to brief the sales guys on the new product.... they're all running on impulse engies up there".

"You want to go for a beer ?"

"No, man, I'm running on impulse engines... got to go home and grab some sleep."

An insult to someone's intelligence or ability, or describing an individual who is struggling to keep up with the rest of the pack
. A 'cold shot' refers to a steam-catapult launch from an aircraft carrier when the steam pressure is too low for the launch weight of the aircraft; on reaching the end of the deck, the aircraft is going too slowly for safe flight and may drop dramatically, or even (in extreme cases) ditch. If ditching is avoided, there follows an agonisingly slow climb away with the handle jammed forward and all the gauges pegged in a desperate attempt to gain height and speed.

"So what's the new guy like, any good ?"
"Man, he's flying off a cold shot."

"How's the training going ?"
"I feel like I'm flying off a cold shot"