crash and burn: vi.,n. A spectacular crash, in the mode of the
conclusion of the car-chase scene in the movie "Bullitt" and many
subsequent imitators (compare die horribly). Sun-3 monitors
losing the flyback transformer and lightning strikes on VAX-11/780
backplanes are notable crash and burn generators. The construction
`crash-and-burn machine' is reported for a computer used exclusively
for alpha or beta testing, or reproducing bugs (i.e., not for
development). The implication is that it wouldn't be such a
disaster if that machine crashed, since only the testers would be
inconvenienced.
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