A rookie police officer was out for his first ride with an experienced partner. A call came in telling them to disperse some people who were loitering.
The officers drove to the street and observed a small crowd standing on a corner. The rookie rolled down his window and said, "Let"s get off the corner people."
A few glances, but no one moved, so he barked again, "Let"s get off that corner... NOW!"
Intimidated, the group of people began to leave, casting puzzled stares in his direction.
Proud of his first official act, the young policeman turned to his partner and asked, "Well, how did I do?"
"Pretty good," chuckled the vet, "especially since this is a bus stop."
- relating to the whole of a continent, racial group, religion, etc. (pan-american). [greek pan, neuter of pas pantos all]
- —n. - a broad usu. Metal vessel used for cooking etc. B contents of this.
- panlike vessel in which substances are heated etc.
- similar shallow container, e.g. The bowl of a pair of scales.
- lavatory bowl.
- part of the lock in old guns.
- hollow in the ground (salt-pan). —v. (-nn-) 1 colloq. Criticize severely.
- a (foll. By off, out) wash (gold-bearing gravel) in a pan. B search for gold thus. pan out 1 (of an action etc.) Turn out; work out well or in a specified way.
- (of gravel) yield gold. panful n. (pl. -s). Panlike adj. [old english]
- —v. (-nn-) 1 swing (a film camera) horizontally to give a panoramic effect or to follow a moving object.
- (of a camera) be moved thus. —n. Panning movement. [from *panorama]
PAP
test n. Cervical smear test. [papanicolaou, name of a us scientist]
- n. - soft or semi-liquid food for infants or invalids.
- light or trivial reading matter. [low german or dutch]
- n. Archaic or dial. Nipple. [scandinavian]
PAR
avion adv. By airmail. [french, = by aeroplane]
- excellence adv. Being the supreme example of its kind (the short story par excellence). [french]
- n. - average or normal amount, degree, condition, etc. (feel below par).
- equality; equal status or footing (on a par with).
- golf number of strokes a first-class player should normally require for a hole or course.
- face value of stocks and shares etc. (at par).
- (in full par of exchange) recognized value of one country's currency in terms of another's. par for the course colloq. What is normal or to be expected. [latin, = equal]
- var. Of *para-1 before a vowel or h (parody).
PAS
de deux n. Dance for two. [french, = step for two]
- n. (pl. Same) step, esp. In ballet. [french, = step]
PAT
Abbr. Patent.
- —v. (-tt-) 1 strike gently with a flat palm, esp. In affection, sympathy, etc.
- flatten or mould by patting. —n. - light stroke or tap, esp. With the hand in affection etc.
- sound made by this.
- small mass (esp. Of butter) formed by patting. pat on the back congratulatory gesture. [probably imitative]
- —adj. - prepared or known thoroughly.
- apposite or opportune, esp. Glibly so (a pat answer). —adv. - in a pat manner.
- appositely. have off pat know or have memorized perfectly. [related to *pat1]
PAW
—n. - foot of an animal having claws or nails.
- colloq. Person's hand. —v. - strike or scrape with a paw or foot.
- colloq. Fondle awkwardly or indecently. [french poue from germanic]
PAX
n. - kiss of peace.
- (as int.) Slang call for a truce (used esp. By schoolchildren). [latin, = peace]
PAY
phone n. Coin-box telephone.
- —v. (past and past part. Paid) 1 (also absol.) Give (a person etc.) What is due for services done, goods received, debts incurred, etc. (paid him in full).
- a give (a usu. Specified amount) for work done, a debt, etc. (they pay £6 an hour). B (foll. By to) hand over the amount of (a debt, wages, etc.) To (paid the money to the assistant).
- a give, bestow, or express (attention, a compliment, etc.) (paid them no heed). B make (a visit) (paid a call on their uncle).
- (also absol.) (of a business, attitude, etc.) Be profitable or advantageous to (a person etc.).
- reward or punish (shall pay you for that).
- (usu. As paid adj.) Recompense (work, time, etc.) (paid holiday).
- (usu. Foll. By out, away) let out (a rope) by slackening it. —n. Wages. in the pay of employed by. Pay back 1 repay.
- punish or have revenge on. Pay for 1 hand over the money for.
- bear the cost of.
- suffer or be punished for (a fault etc.). Pay in pay (money) into a bank etc. Account. Pay its (or one's) way cover costs. Pay one's last respects attend a funeral to show respect. Pay off 1 dismiss (workers) with a final payment.
- colloq. Yield good results; succeed.
- pay (a debt) in full. Pay one's respects make a polite visit. Pay through the nose colloq. Pay much more than a fair price. Pay up pay the full amount (of). Put paid to colloq. - deal effectively with (a person).
- terminate (hopes etc.). payee n. [latin paco appease: related to *peace]
PCB
abbr. - polychlorinated biphenyl, any of several toxic aromatic compounds formed as waste in industrial processes.
