backdoor pilot
n.— «The episode will serve as what is known as a “backdoor pilot” for the spinoff, which would be exec-produced by “Grey’s” creator Shonda Rhimes.» —“A special delivery on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’: It’s a pilot” by Lisa de Morae Los Angeles Times Feb. 23, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Colin from Los Angeles, California, is pondering the expression make no bones about it, which suggests the speaker is talking or acting with no hesitation whatsoever. The saying is inspired by the idea of literally finding bones in one’s food, since...
Don from San Mateo, Florida, recalls that when he asked his mother what he was getting for Christmas, she’d reply with: I got you a fastareus. It’s bigger than a breadbox and smaller than an elephant. His father also used fastareus as a placeholder...