dead check
v. phr.— «“And how are you going to do your dead check?” persisted Lutz. “With a notional (make-believe) kick in the (groin), sir,” Derosby said. The oft-used technique quickly reveals whether an insurgent is truly dead or just playing possum. “No, wait,” said Lutz, striding forward. “Let me show you how to do a dead check in Iraq.” Grabbing Derosby’s M-16 rifle, Lutz pointed the barrel at the Iraqi’s chest. “Bang! Bang!” he shouted, then handed the rifle back to Derosby. “That’s how you do a dead check in Iraq.” Derosby nodded. “Bang! Bang!” he repeated.» —“Be sharp, stay alive ; Role-playing simulations help Marines learn the importance of keeping their guard up” by Bill Nemitz Portland Press Herald (Maine) Mar. 21, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Why is boxing called the sweet science when it’s obviously such a bruising sport? Also, a mother of five is baffled when her Gen Z kids use words she thought she knew. For example, they call sweatshirts sweaters, and declare that’s so aesthetic...
Lydia in Portland, Maine, was texting someone about having seen an opossum, but wasn’t quite sure how to write that out with the article. Is it a or an opposum? Like most Americans, she drops the initial unstressed syllable, making it sound like...