Third rail (metaphor) — The phrase third rail is a metaphor in politics to denote an idea or topic that is so charged and untouchable that any politician or public official who dares to broach the subject would invariably suffer politically.The third rail in a train… … Wikipedia
Third rail (model railroading) — The use of a third rail in model railroading is a technique that is sometimes applied in order to facilitate easier wiring.Two rail versus three rail systemEarly toy trains used two metal rail tracks like most real trains. However, manufacturers… … Wikipedia
Third rail (disambiguation) — Third rail may refer to:*Third rail, an extra rail used for supplying electricity to trains *The extra rail on a dual gauge railway * Third Rail (song), a song by Squeeze *Third rail (metaphor), a political metaphor *The Third Rail, an online… … Wikipedia
Third rail — (Electric Railways) (a) The third rail used in the third rail system. (b) An electric railway using such a rail. [Colloq.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
third rail — The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train … The small dictionary of idiomes
third rail — The third rail of something is dangerous to alter or change. Originally, the third rail is the one carrying the electricity for a train. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Third rail — For other uses, see Third rail (disambiguation). Third rail at the West Falls Church Metro station near Washington, D.C., electrified at 750 volts. The third rail is at the top of the image, with a white canopy above it. The two lower rails… … Wikipedia
third rail — noun a rail through which electric current is supplied to an electric locomotive • Hypernyms: ↑track, ↑rail, ↑rails, ↑runway * * * noun : a metal rail through which current is led to the motors of an electric locomotive compare running rail * * * … Useful english dictionary
third rail — noun a) The electrified rail that runs besides, or between train tracks to power electric trains. Social security is the third rail of American politics: touch it and your political career dies. b) anything that is dangerous to come into contact… … Wiktionary
Third-rail system — (Electric Railways) A system in which a third rail is used for carrying the current for operating the motors, the rail being insulated from the ground and the current being taken off by means of contact brushes or other devices. [Webster 1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
