cursor dipped in X

jargon The metaphorical source of the electronic equivalent

of a poisoned-pen letter. Derived from English metaphors of

the form "pen dipped in X" (where X = e.g. "acid", "bile",

"vitriol"). These map over neatly to this hackish usage (the

cursor being what moves, leaving letters behind, when one is

composing on-line).

"Talk about a nastygram! He must've had his cursor dipped

in acid when he wrote that one!"

[Jargon File]

(1996-12-27)