> From: Polytropon <[email protected]> > > On Fri, 25 May 2012 21:52:12 -0400, Matthew Story wrote: > > http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_(Unix_term) > > Ah, thanks! I hoped there was a more... technical explaination > than just "wheel" being a slang term derivate. :-) > > big wheel (idiomatic) > A person with a great deal of power or influence, > especially a high-ranking person in an organization. > > slang "big wheel" -> wheel bit -> wheel group
There are numerous 'wheel' related terms in the 'casual English' lexicon. See 'wheeler dealer', for example. Those 'at the wheel' are those who are in charge -- in immediate control of steering the ship. See also 'wheel horse'. which has a secondary meaning of 'a diligent, dependble worker' -- one who can be trusted to 'do things right' (defined as 'the way the boss wants it done' :) Derived from a position in a team of horses used to pull wagons, coaches, etc. Some horses do *not* work well in a team at all, others are intractable if they are not in a 'lead' position, A 'wheel horse' will work behind others. They will, _without_complaint_, follow the "horse's ass" in the lead. The parallel to computer operations staff (the wheel group) is obvious. *GRIN* _______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[email protected]"
