demon core
nounEtymology So called because of its involvement in two fatal criticality accidents at the Los Alamos Laboratory in 1945 and 1946. In the late 2010s, the circumstances of the second accident were popularized widely by science history videos and internet memes.
1
Figuratively A essential instance or part of something, especially something malevolent.
- As Mazzocchi saw it, those chemicals that poisoned his union’s rank and file eventually make their way into communities outside — through the air, soil, and waterways. The factory was therefore the demon core of the environmental crisis.2017 August 31, Connor Kilpatrick, “Victory Over the Sun”, in Jacobin:
- That's the demon core of capitalism; you live decades watching companies do what appears to be reasonable, justifiable things and ignore the anti capitalists saying "does this not set a precedent for much more terrifying things?" No, no, ridiculous2018 April 27, @gravislizard, Twitter:
1 more example
- California democrats is the demon core of Hitler partials when it comes to homelessness2023 October 2, @MalevolentAstra, Twitter:
2
Humorous Something that is especially dangerous and should not be tampered with, or otherwise reminiscent of the demon core.
- She's a 'Demon Core' of gay energy. If you drop a screwdriver on one of the piercings, she goes supercritical.2019 September 27, @VelocityCatte, Twitter:
- Is this the demon core of noodles2022 December 3, /u/isloohik2, “Nookular Noodles”, in Reddit, /r/CuratedTumblr:
1 more example
- That this is like the demon core of edibles, you drop it and a whole city is getting high for years afterward.2024 February 18, @RatboyJon, Twitter:
- Related terms
- tickle the dragon's tail