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Gah, stop abusing the word punt. The headline is nonsensical.

Punt does not mean avoidance. It has much closer associations to "attempt" (punter, plus rugby usage).

I totally agree with the rest of the article, why shard or otherwise distribute your database before being required? Although I think I would build my DB as shard 1 of 1 to allow for the future case.

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You're thinking of British English. In America, punt means avoid, and most people here probably think of an American football punt--which is the voluntary end of a failed offensive possession--so suggests you're giving up for now and will try again later. We probably bastardized it, sure, but that ship has sailed.

Thanks. Such a great word, lost forever :)

So if I said "take a punt", would that be to take, or not take?

I should build a guide of "words not to use on presentations".

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