While studying for a political science test with someone on my dorm floor, the term ad hoc came up during our review.
"What does 'ad hoc' mean?" the other student asked me.
"Offhand, I don't know," I replied. "I've forgotten."
Suddenly lunging for my neck, the student shouted, "I need to know!"
I backed up, alarmed.
He started laughing.
"You should have seen your face!" he exclaimed. "I wasn't actually going to strangle you."
"Well, for a moment, it looked like you were!" I responded.
I left nothing to chance for the next study session.
I knocked on the door. The student answered. Before he could say anything, I said, "Ad hoc--a committee set up to investigate a specific case, limited in scope, whose rulings aren't intended as a model for future rulings. That said, let's study for the test..."
To his credit, he didn't attempt to strangle me again.
