strangling the parrot

Verb

strangle the parrot (third-person singular simple present strangles the parrot, present participle strangling the parrot, simple past and past participle strangled the parrot)

1. (idiomatic, slang) To switch off the transponder, for example, because it is interfering with the radar system.
   • If you fly jets, you know what it means to strangle the parrot (turning off the transponder that identifies aircraft as friendly or hostile) and that the howgozit is a dial that shows how much fuel is left.1990, Tom Fahey, “Types of Jargon”, in The Joys of Jargon, Hauppauge, N.Y.; London: Barron’s Educational Series, →ISBN, pages 21–22

   Antonyms:

   squawk the parrot