aluminum shower
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aluminum shower
1. In aviation, a midair collision between two airplanes, thus resulting in a "shower" of debris from the sky. With so many more planes in the air these days, it's a wonder there aren't more aluminum showers. The quick-thinking pilots managed to avoid each other at the last second, thank goodness, saving the lives of all their passengers and also all the people below who could have been killed by the aluminum shower. We stood and gaped at the TV as the news showed footage of the aluminum shower from the plane crash.
2. obsolete An effort to collect household and scrap aluminum so as to aid in wartime production efforts. Primarily heard in US. Officials pledged that the town would take part in an aluminum shower to replenish the raw resources that the arms industry so desperately needs. We're putting aside household things we don't need for Father to take to the aluminum shower in town this weekend. As kids during World War II, we didn't understand what these "aluminum showers" were all about, we just knew that Mama and Papa needed to help the war effort.
3. obsolete A party, as for a bride-to-be, in which household items and appliances (i.e., those made of aluminum) are given as gifts. Primarily heard in US. I was at a lovely aluminum shower for Jane last weekend. Someone even gave her an entire kitchen set! If the wedding is in the summer, then when is the aluminum shower? I'm sure they're in need of home goods for their new life together. My Grandma says they used to call "bridal showers" "aluminum showers"—how funny!
See also: shower
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