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This article says:

If there's a Holy Grail, there's a Killer Rabbit.

I can understand that to be "even if there's a good solution, there's a catch to it", but what does Killer Rabbit have to do with the Holy Grail?

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Bah...Disagree with the closing. – T.E.D. Jul 13 '11 at 13:40
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Too bad you need 800 more points to vote to re-open. I do not see why this is off topic. FAQ: Usage, word choice, and grammar plus Problems encountered by people learning English both apply. The "Explain this joke which uses obscure English" does not apply in my and several other's opinion. – mplungjan Jul 13 '11 at 14:40
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@MrHen if this question is off topic, then this is off the chart: english.stackexchange.com/questions/33582/grizzly-status/… – mplungjan Jul 13 '11 at 14:42
Once there is a correct answer, you might as well close the question. – GEdgar Jul 13 '11 at 15:56
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@mplungjan - Yeah, there seem to be rather a lot of questions about idomatic phrases lately. If those are all off-topic I'd understand, but this is the only one of them I've seen get closed. I suppose it could be that the concern was that anything related to Monty Python is bound to go off into the weeds, and the closers couldn't find a more appropriate reason to put down than "off topic". – T.E.D. Jul 13 '11 at 19:19
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closed as off topic by MrHen, psmears, JSBձոգչ, KitFox♦, Alain Pannetier Φ Jul 13 '11 at 13:22

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2 Answers

up vote 16 down vote accepted

It is a reference to a Monty Python film from 1975 called Monty Python and the Holy Grail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg

The Rabbit of Caerbannog can be killed by the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

Rabbit

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More details here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_of_Caerbannog – Joachim Sauer Jul 13 '11 at 7:22
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Way too many details there ;))) – mplungjan Jul 13 '11 at 8:05
'Tis one of the relics Brother Maynard carries with him! – T.E.D. Jul 13 '11 at 11:55
Pie Jesu Domine... clunk – KeithS Jul 13 '11 at 14:34
...Dona eis requiem! clunk – T.E.D. Jul 13 '11 at 19:14
up vote 4 down vote

By way of a long addendum to mplungjan's answer...

If you are going to be interacting a lot with English-speaking people, then as a point of cultural literacy, I highly suggest getting hold of this movie and watching it through at least once. This is probably not the first reference to it you have encountered, and it almost certainly won't be the last. Your typical techie can quote large sections of this film from memory, and knowledge of it is pretty much assumed. (Plus, it's f'ing hilarious)

Other MPatHG references you may stumble across include, but are not limited to:

  • Tim the Enchanter
  • The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch
  • Air-speed velocity of swallows.
  • Answering questions wrong resulting in being thrown in a pit (often: "Red...no Blue. Aieee!")
  • Trojan Rabbit
  • Sir Robin's Minstrels (occasionally the eating thereof)
  • "...and then it fell into the swamp"
  • "Runaway!!"
  • "`Tis but a scratch!"
  • Catapulting cows
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Uhm, can't believe you forgot one word: "Ni" – SWeko Jul 13 '11 at 12:38
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Also, the algorithm for witch detection is quite often referenced. – SWeko Jul 13 '11 at 12:41
"Wicked, naughty Zoot." Breaking into song with "Knights of the Round Table." – rajah9 Jul 13 '11 at 13:20
Heh. Figured there'd be lots of suggested additions. – T.E.D. Jul 13 '11 at 13:38
African or European swallows? – mplungjan Jul 13 '11 at 14:05

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