English
Etymology
From the artificial horizon used in aircraft, which is similar to a barber's pole
Verb
to keep it on the barber pole
- intransitive slang To do something correctly.
Usage notes
It is a variation of the colloquial �straighten up and fly right� expression with a similar meaning. Its origin is that in many airplanes the artificial horizon has a solid pattern above the horizon indicator and strips (similar to a barber pole�s) below this line. When the plane indicator is sitting �on the barber pole� the airplane is flying level.
See also
Five by five
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