SUITABLY SMALL


Meaning of SUITABLY SMALL in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ adj. ]

[perverted from mathematical jargon]

An expression used ironically to characterize unquantifiable behavior that differs from expected or required behavior. For example, suppose a newly created program came up with a correct full-screen display, and one publicly exclaimed: "It works!" Then, if the program dumped core on the first mouse click, one might add: "Well, for suitably small values of `works'." Compare the characterization of pi under random numbers .

Jargon File English vocabulary.      Английский словарь жаргона.