search-and-destroy mode

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
search-and-destroy mode
 n.

   Hackerism for a noninteractive search-and-replace facility in an
   editor, so called because an incautiously chosen match pattern can
   cause {infinite} damage.
from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
search-and-destroy mode

   Hackerism for a noninteractive search-and-replace facility in
   an editor, so called because an incautiously chosen match
   pattern can cause {infinite} damage.

   [{Jargon File}]
antiflux / dictionary / search-and-destroy mode
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