suitably small

suitably small
 adj.

   [perverted from mathematical jargon] An expression used ironically to
   characterize unquantifiable behavior that differs from expected or
   required behavior. For example, suppose a newly created program came
   up with a correct full-screen display, and one publicly exclaimed: "It
   works!" Then, if the program dumped core on the first mouse click, one
   might add: "Well, for suitably small values of `works'."
    

suitably small
sufficiently small

   <jargon, mathematics> (From mathematical jargon) An expression
   used ironically to characterise unquantifiable behaviour that
   differs from expected or required behaviour.  For example,
   suppose a newly created program came up with a correct
   full-screen display, and one publicly exclaimed: "It works!"
   Then, if the program dumped {core} on the first mouse click,
   one might add: "Well, for suitably small values of `works'."

   Compare the characterisation of pi under {for values of}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1997-09-21)