the moose's problem (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Twice in his novels, SF author Robert Heinlein has a character say
"that's the moose's problem" (Stranger in a Strange Land and Glory
Road).  Both times, it appears from context that the meaning is, "let
someone else deal with the details" or "It's not my job" -- something
like that.

I can't find anyone else using the term -- checking the major databases
to which I have access turns up nothing informative.

Is anyone else familiar with the phrase in this usage?

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org