Post originally by dasmen at 2003-10-15 13:48:43
Converted from Phorums BB System

ca·ve·at

Noun

A warning or caution: “A final caveat: Most experts feel that clients get unsatisfactory results when they don't specify clearly what they want” (Savvy).

A qualification or explanation.

Verb

tr. Informal

To qualify with a warning or clarification: The spokesperson caveated the statement with a reminder that certain facts were still unknown.

and your statement included

"...provided they haven't been deceased for more than a few minutes."

I would call that a Caveat. A big one, too.