cockroach problem

cockroach problem
n.
A problem that is bigger than it initially appears.
Example Citation:
"Well, Terry, Procter & Gamble has a cockroach problem, and, you know, we know what that means; in other words, you've got one little piece of bad news, and there is always more, just like those little bugs."
—Andy Serwer, quoted in "In the Money," CNN, June 8, 2000
Earliest Citation:
"In the intermediate term, you know, we will get a tech correction one of these days. And when we do, there's not really any fundamental underpinnings for this very expensive price. So I would pause. Go ahead and watch it. And you know, if it came down dramatically from here, sure. I don't think it's going to be what we call a cockroach problem, that there's something broken in Legato's business model. But this isn't the right price to pay given the fundamentals."
—Nick Moore, "Tech Stock Analysis," CNNfn, January 27, 2000
Related Words: Categories:

New words. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • champagne problem — n. A choice between two positive or ideal things; a problem that actually demonstrates one s good fortune. Example Citations: Mr. Whannell said: I call it our Hollywood trial by fire. I used to read all those books where directors are complaining …   New words

  • banana problem — n. Going too far with a project, or not knowing when to bring a project to a close. Example Citation: [The] banana problem...applies to when Web site designers don t know when to call it quits, resulting in an overload of bells and whistles, as… …   New words

  • binary problem — n. A problem that can be reduced to just two factors; a problem that has only two solutions. Example Citation: President Clinton works the Middle East as a binary problem of Israelis and Palestinians. But the Middle East is a treacherous mixture… …   New words

  • toy problem — (TOY prawb.lum) n. A simple problem, or a simplified version of a complex problem, that is used to demonstrate a concept or proposition. Example Citation: Before I go to the topic of explanation, I would like to say a few words on the role of Al… …   New words

  • Iran newspaper cockroach cartoon controversy — Cartoon that started the controversy. The boy tries to address the cockroach using different forms of Soosk (Persian word for cockroach) and it answers Namana? (Azeri language, also Persian slang, for What?) …   Wikipedia

  • Depopulation of cockroach in ex-USSR countries — A depopulation of cockroach has occurred since the beginning of the century in Russia and other countries of the former USSR. Observers note quick disappearance of various types of cockroaches from cities and towns in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine …   Wikipedia

  • nailing jelly to a tree — idiom. Tackling a particularly messy, and probably impossible, problem. Example Citations: How do you measure happiness, anyway? Happiness, like pain, has a threshold that varies from person to person. Defining it is about as easy as nailing… …   New words

  • Hartley Hall — was the first official residence hall (or dormitory) constructed on the campus of Columbia University, and currently houses undergraduate students from Columbia College as well as the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Buzzwords — B2B black swan braggables Buns of Steel buzzword bingo buzzword compliant cockroach problem drop yo …   New words

  • Idioms — birds of a feather meeting bucket list buried shovel cockroach problem Ctrl Alt Delete dinner table test dog that caught the car …   New words

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”