When you're indicating that something is the critical path that causes the whole project to take a long time, which one is it?

  1. Long Pole
  2. Long Poll
  3. Long Pull

I actually find various sources when I look it up on google that contradict each other.

  • https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/a-long-pull
  • https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20080805-00/?p=21373

It's "the long pole." As Edwin and Jim commented, it's short for "the long pole in the tent."

The New York Times printed an opinion piece on where this expression comes from.