The most popular pre-"Matrix" "pill," I'd say, was the "poison pill" corporate takeover defense. The OED cites it as early as 1983 and defines it as "any of a number of ploys (such as a conditional rights issue) adopted by the victim of an unwelcome takeover bid to make itself unattractive to the bidder."
My favorite "pill" ? Riffing off the "doompilled" descriptor, people who believed, somehow, that the fireworks going off at all hours in NYC circa late June 2020 were in fact a CIA PLOT!!! were called "boompilled" :P
I'm personally waiting for someone famous to note the similarity between "pill" and "pillage" and kick off a new wave of punnery.
If I were Amber, I’d say “what?!” Or per Internet, WUT?
So much here. The abundance of English language neologisms can be astounding. And the phrase “Urban Dictionary, which isn’t always credible but always offers merch..” is perfect! 👏
The most popular pre-"Matrix" "pill," I'd say, was the "poison pill" corporate takeover defense. The OED cites it as early as 1983 and defines it as "any of a number of ploys (such as a conditional rights issue) adopted by the victim of an unwelcome takeover bid to make itself unattractive to the bidder."
Thanks for this addition, Ben. I searched for but couldn't find examples of adjectival “poison-pilled.” Have you ever seen it?
As the Maine farmer said when the tourist asked him, "Have you lived here all your life"--not yet.
Here's one example on TPM with a meaning that's similar, tho not directly about corporate takeovers:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/house-israel-johnson-republicans
Nice!
My favorite "pill" ? Riffing off the "doompilled" descriptor, people who believed, somehow, that the fireworks going off at all hours in NYC circa late June 2020 were in fact a CIA PLOT!!! were called "boompilled" :P
I'm personally waiting for someone famous to note the similarity between "pill" and "pillage" and kick off a new wave of punnery.
Love "boompilled"!
If I were Amber, I’d say “what?!” Or per Internet, WUT?
So much here. The abundance of English language neologisms can be astounding. And the phrase “Urban Dictionary, which isn’t always credible but always offers merch..” is perfect! 👏