skyhook

skyhook

1. A long cable that is attached on one end to a person or object and on the other end to a large balloon that floats high into the sky. The cable is subsequently "caught" by a slow-moving low-altitude aircraft overhead, which lifts the person or object into the air. Used especially in reference to military or spy agencies, who used such devices to extract people or things out of dangerous territories. The spy was trapped behind enemy lines, so the Agency decided to use a skyhook to get him out safely.
2. Any hook or harness attached to a cable that is suspended from a helicopter or airplane and used to transport people or objects through the air. They had to use a skyhook to lift the sedated elephant out of its enclosure in the zoo. Rescue services are going to airlift the injured man the nearest hospital, so we'll have to prep his spinal board for the skyhook.
3. In skydiving, a particular type of mechanism that is used to deploy one's reserve parachute in case of a malfunctioning main parachute. He was so focused on getting his parachute to open correctly that he didn't have enough time to open the reserve with his skyhook.
4. In rock climbing, a small metal hook attached to a strap used to help a climber secure a hold on small or slippery grips or to allow them to rest mid-climb. Thank God I had that skyhook with me! My arms got so tired near the top that I don't know how I would have made it if I didn't have the chance to give them a break. I always bring a skyhook with me in case it starts to rain during my climb.
5. In basketball, a specialized hook shot that is typically shot from a greater distance from the basket. With his great height and precise aim, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was able to turn the skyhook into one of his most effective shots once he got inside the three-point arc.
6. A figurative hook suspended from a nonexistent crane, as needed to lift or hoist someone or something in an impossible manner or location. If I eat any more of this pizza, they'll need a skyhook to get me out of this place!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sky hook

n. an imaginary crane; an imaginary tool. I can’t get this thing outa here without a sky hook.
See also: hook, sky
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • sky hook
  • anticipointment
  • get the short end
  • cash up
  • (one's) race is run
  • draw to a close
  • end to end
  • culminate
  • culminate in
  • culminate in (something)
References in periodicals archive
"Before UHD movies are made available for early release, studios need to be absolutely certain that the content is safe from piracy,"said David Bairstow, VP of product, Skyhook.
GeoGuard and Skyhook announce geo-piracy solution
In the modal space, the classical skyhook control strategy is used for depressing the decoupled single mode vibration.
Fractional Critical Damping Theory and Its Application in Active Suspension Control
The release from Project Skyhook provides user VPN access with:
AVIATRIX LAUNCHES PROJECT SKYHOOK
and Omae, A., "Improvement of Ride Comfort by Unsprung Negative Skyhook Damper Control Using In-Wheel Motors," SAE Int.
Improvement of ride comfort by unsprung negative skyhook damper control using in-wheel motors
Baltic Triangle-based Skyhook helps game developers deliver the 2D and 3D artwork for games across a wide range of platforms and styles, including the increasingly popular 'serious' simulation games.
City region SMEs get PS500,000 of support
The only company offering a supercharged four-stroke and a joy stick control system with position holding, Skyhook Virtual Anchor.
Best boat power: engines for offshore, inshore, flats and bass boats
Rowland, ACHA, AIA, Thomas, Miller & Partners PLLC); interior design (Thomas, Miller & Partners PLLC); structural engineering (Skyhook Structural Engineering P.C.); civil engineering (Littlejohn); mechanical, plumbing, electrical & telecommunications engineering (I.C.
Cartersville Medical Center: Cartersville, Ga
At 2.18m tall, he was famous for his indefensible skyhook, dominating the NBA for 20 years, earning six NBA championships and 38,387 points.
NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar coming to Dubai in bid to battle diabetes
Available with both six-speed automatic and electro-actuated transmissions, the GTS also delivers a new generation of the Sport Skyhook active damping system and dual-cast brakes for maximum stopping power.Make no mistake about it; this is a car that commands two things, respect and attention.
Stunning Italian stallion
The car we tried had standard suspension and sat on 20-inch alloys - Maserati's Skyhook adaptive damping system is a PS2,045 option - yet the noise insulation was top class with a delightful growl coming from the four exhausts under acceleration.
Maserati goes for diesel power
Their study confirmed that the method provided better compromise between the body and wheel displacements while giving much more flexibility in the construction of the control strategy than with the classical on-off skyhook control strategy.
Performance analysis of a semiactive suspension system with particle swarm optimization and fuzzy logic control
To this aim, a skyhook control algorithm is modified by adding to the control force a nonlinear term that increases in the vicinity of the stroke bounds.
Free vibration response of a frame structural model controlled by a nonlinear active mass driver system
Proto system works with the company's SkyHook to help technicians and contractors working in construction comply with fall protection regulation, fulfill safety requirements, and work productively white at height.
Tethered tools system
Named the Skyhook crane, and referred to as the strongest moving quayside crane in the world, the Skyhook crane is specially designed and fabricated by and for Huisman China's Zhangzhou yard.
Huisman China installs new 2,400 mt quayside crane