--- Deborah Harrell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- Alberto Monteiro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > <snip> > > Zebra? This is a br soccer slang. What does it > mean in English? > > It's medical slang for an unusual illness or > condition; 'when one hears hoofbeats, it's usually a > horse, not a zebra...'
Addendum: because it's a teaching hospital, Dr. Weaver wanted the intern or resident to think of the unusual as well as the common causes of whatever-it-was, "rule out zebras." (I didn't see this, but that would be a logical statement in that context.) At morning rounds, the hapless intern/resident will be "pimped" for zebras (and the occasional quagga!) if the attending is a diamond-maker (sphincter tone high enough to turn a lump of coal into a diamond; time may be specified, as in "he's a weeker" or "she's a monther" etc. Individual institutions frequently have their own sub-sub-slang.) Origin Of Werewolf Legend? Maru __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
