During a recent radio interview, I heard one of the speakers refer to an issue as being a "hot rail". Does anyone know where this expression comes from?
2006-12-29 18:33:37 · 3 answers · asked by noel 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Doing drugs, Its when you heat a glass tube so hot, then when you go to inhale the drugs up your sinuses, the powder turns into mist, kinda like smoking but faster. this comes from reliable sources, and is no indication that I have ever done this. ( Nice diclaimer huh?)
2006-12-30 02:44:29 · answer #1 · answered by niceguy_thats_me2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term probably comes from how the old New York subway system used to work. The subway was powered by electricity. The source of the electricity came from an exposed middle rail which was obviously quite dangerous; something to be avoided at all costs, despite its importance to the functioning of the entire system (and the entire city).
2006-12-31 02:03:40 · answer #2 · answered by chuck U 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's also known as the "third rail". The third rail in a subway system carries the electrical current for the subway, so if you touch it, you die.
Hence, if a politician touches a "hot rail" or "third rail" issue (like, say, privatization of Social Security), he's apt not to get re-elected.
2007-01-01 12:51:11 · answer #3 · answered by Joya 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋