a long weight

An imaginary object that someone is instructed to request from someone else, who then proceeds to leave them waiting indefinitely while it is being "located." A practical joke usually played on a new member of a group or organization. A: "The other guys told me to go ask the foreman for a long weight, and he just left me waiting for nearly an hour before I finally gave up!" B: "Gosh, did you really not underweight that they were pulling your leg?" I think tonight's the night we send the freshmen out for a long weight, yes? A: "The janitor didn't help us at all! We just waited around for a long time, then left." B: "Huh, and you new guys still haven't figured out what a 'long weight' really is?"