Phrase guide

suicide cable

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A simple electrical cord with prongs on both ends; plugging one end into a live outlet (for example a generator) and the other end into a dead outlet (in a house with no power) allows power to be injected from the live outlet into the dead one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

Examples

  • When the hurricane hit and I lost power, I fired up the generator and jacked it in to the outlet in my garage with a suicide cable; at least I was able to run a few lights and my refrigerator.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: suicide cord, widowmaker, male-to-male cable, male-to-male cord

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Referencing the fact that when one end is plugged into a live outlet, the exposed prongs of the other end are highly dangerous.