Talk:white smoke

RFD discussion: January–June 2017
White smoke could be used for multiple purposes. Also, the announcement isn't the white smoke itself, the white smoke is just the visible signal. DTLHS (talk) 00:05, 26 January 2017 (UTC)
 * I could imagine the term being used metonymously to refer to the decision itself, but I don't see that as sufficient justification for inclusion. DCDuring TALK 00:12, 26 January 2017 (UTC)
 * Take a look at these examples . Would they be understandable to someone who is not aware of the origin of the expression?  keep  and add the figurative sense. --Hekaheka (talk) 07:17, 28 January 2017 (UTC)
 * On the second thought, I'm not sure if we need the concrete sense. I added a figurative sense and an etymology in which its origin is explained. --Hekaheka (talk) 07:53, 28 January 2017 (UTC)
 * I agree that it's a signal and not an announcement, a in fact. I think it's interesting enough to keep. DonnanZ (talk) 08:54, 28 January 2017 (UTC)
 * I suppose that any signal traditionally associated with a decision could be used metonymously for the decision, but the essence of the matter is that it indicates a decision and is not the decision or the "event" of the decision. As Donnanz suggests it is "a signal". It seems like the scheduling of a press conference after some portentious meeting. All five of the hits for "white smoke" (in quotes) from Hekaheka's source read to me a "signal". Putting the encyclopedic sense in the etymology seems appropriate. We could still have for the "smoke that is white in color" sense. DCDuring TALK  14:28, 28 January 2017 (UTC)
 * An afterthought: the white smoke only tells the outside world that a new pope has been chosen, his name would be given later in the official accouncement. DonnanZ (talk) 09:54, 29 January 2017 (UTC)


 * Keep per basic CFI: People might run across it and need to look it up. Korn &#91;kʰũːɘ̃n&#93; (talk) 23:17, 2 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep: Pur ple back pack 89  11:04, 23 June 2017 (UTC)

Kept. bd2412 T 17:02, 27 June 2017 (UTC)