General
gas passer
What does gas passer mean?
What surgeons call the anaesthetist when they want to wind them up. Reduces a highly trained specialist to 'the person who turns on the gas.' Anaesthetists answer back by calling surgeons 'butchers' or 'plumbers.' Standard inter-specialty banter.
"Tell the gas passer we're ready to start — patient's prepped."
Origin
Operating-theatre slang, common in both UK and US hospitals since the mid-20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does gas passer mean?
It's a surgical-team nickname for the anaesthetist.
How do you use gas passer in a sentence?
"The gas passer says the patient's ready to go."
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