What does third rail mean in slang?

The third rail is a slang term for the electric rail that carries high-voltage power through a subway system. The allusion is that a person who gets too close to the rail could be electrocuted if the rail is not properly maintained. In more recent times, the phrase has come to refer to any hot topic that is highly relevant and very much up in discussion, such as mass transit, gun control, LGBT rights, and so on.

What does third rail mean in street slang?

The term “third rail is often used to describe a topic that is hot button for discussion. If you want to spark a conversation about something people might not want to talk about, you can use “third rail” to get the ball rolling. The phrase is derived from the electric rail that carries high-voltage power through the center of a train car to the train’s engines. A line on a train car that carries high-voltage power is called a

What does third rail slang mean?

A “third rail” is a slang term that refers to something that is highly politicized or that carries a lot of baggage. The term “third rail” is most often used in reference to presidential campaigns. If a political party has a strong candidate who is very unfavorable to another party, the party with the more unfavorable candidate is said to be on the “third rail” of the campaign. In this context, “on the rail” refers to the high

What does third rail mean in military slang?

The term “third rail” in military slang refers to an issue that is so important or sensitive that it’s off-limits to discussion or even casual mention, especially in public speaking. If a train derails or crashes, it can be catastrophic for many people, so it is critical that those responsible for it are highly trained. If the train is carrying nuclear fuel, it can have catastrophic results if it derails or otherwise malfunctions.

What does third rail mean in English slang?

If you ride the subway in New York City, you might have heard the term “third rail” used to describe the electrified rail that goes through the center of the train car. The name comes from the idea that the train is running on the same rail as the one that delivers electricity to the train itself.