Military Sayings in Everyday Life

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PunkReaper -> Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 3:08:55 PM)
Thought you may find these interesting....Feel free to add your own. The Balloon Has Gone UP : you know there is trouble ahead: WW1 observation balloons sent up to watch for attack and WW2 barrage balloons being raised was a sign of impending action. Bite the Bullet : carry out a task against your wishes : At the time of the Indian Mutiny in The British Empire Hindu soldiers were forced to bite the bullet off the charge to load their guns. This contained pig fat which was from a holy animal and they were forced to bite this against their wishes. Chance Your Arm: take an uncalculated risk: soldiers would take a risk to be promoted and get stripes on their arms. A Feather in Your Cap: do something well : In Medieval England a knight showing bravery was rewarded this way, hence the crest of the Prince of Wales. Flash in the Pan: Great show but no result: sometimes to powder ignited in the lock pan but failed to ignite the charge in an early musket. A Line in the Sand: go no further :one of the Macedonian kings, a bit short of cash, decided to invade Egypt, then a Roman protectorate. His army was met at the border by a lone Roman senator named Popillius Laenas, who ordered the king to withdraw. The king began to stall for time, so Popillius Laenas drew a circle in the sand around the king and demanded that the king agree to withdraw his army before he stepped out of the circle The die is cast: What will happen will happen: Caesar on crossing the Rubicon into Italy There's a few to start you off.

PunkReaper -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 3:18:24 PM)
Just thought of another Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey : it's pretty cold : Brass monkeys held the cannon balls on the Men of war ships. If very cold the balls would fall through onto the deck.

HansBolter -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 3:28:52 PM)
Crossed the Rubicon: Committed to a course of action...when Ceaser crossed the Rubicon he committed his army to the advance on Rome. Screwed the pooch: fighter jockey slang for screwed up.

ilovestrategy -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 5:43:28 PM)
Square Meal. On British Ships of the Line the plates were square. I can't believe it! I actually got to contribute some knowledge on this forum after being here for over 2 years! [X(][:D]

PunkReaper -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 8:50:01 PM)
quote: Screwed the pooch: fighter jockey slang for screwed up What's the origin of that saying...who originally screwed the first pooh? Run : run away : French Army Surrender : Give up the enemy have arrived : Italian Army [:D] sorry couldn't help myself.

HansBolter -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 8:53:30 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper quote: Screwed the pooch: fighter jockey slang for screwed up What's the origin of that saying...who originally screwed the first pooh? not gonna touch that one [8D]

PunkReaper -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:02:05 PM)
That's what the first fighter jockey should have said [:D][:D]

HansBolter -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:18:17 PM)
Since you stepped over to the lighter side above I'll add another: EBay add for used French Army Rifle: Slightly used French Army Rifle: Dropped once, never fired!

Jeffrey H. -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:23:11 PM)
Give it or gave it The whole nine yards - Something to do with a length of belted ammunition being 9 yards long. Ledgend varies on the origin.

andym -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:29:19 PM)
Show or Shake a Leg:RN saying form when in Port the call to show a leg would go out,if it were hairy then it was a Matelot if not invariably it was a female and allowed to stay in the hammock. Nipper (as used in reference to a small boy)RN Slang for a Small boy that was employed to wrap(nip) a warp around the very large Anchor cable to enable it to be raised via the capstan. Not enough room to swing a cat:RN saying refering to a small space where the Bo'sun couldnt weild the cat o nine tails effectively.

James Ward -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:33:42 PM)
SNAFU: Saying used by grunts used to express admiration of leadership ability of their superiors - Situation normall, All F*cked Up.

PunkReaper -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:44:04 PM)
It is amazing how many Royal Navy expressions are used in everyday speech. Son of a Gun : Child born on the gun deck The Bitter End ; End of an anchor rope...meaning the water was too deep to anchor Goes by the Board: Board was the side of the tall ship so to go by the board was to be lost Had your chips: workers in the old dockyards were allowed to take home wood (chips) as a prk but if they fell out of favour they were told they had had their chips.

HansBolter -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 9:57:06 PM)
MRE: Meals Rejected by Everyone

Capt. Harlock -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/13/2008 10:34:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper Bite the Bullet : carry out a task against your wishes : At the time of the Indian Mutiny in The British Empire Hindu soldiers were forced to bite the bullet off the charge to load their guns. This contained pig fat which was from a holy animal and they were forced to bite this against their wishes. I always thought that "bite the bullet" came from literally doing so to help deal with the pain of battlefield surgery. Incidentally, the business about pig fat (for the Muslim soldiers) and cow fat (for the Hindu soldiers) was only a rumor to incite the Mutiny. The cartridges issued were paper enclosures containing bullet and powder, and they could be torn open with the fingers, but in the heat of battle they were usually torn open with the teeth so as not to drop the musket. The British actually greased them with lamb fat, or waxed them, to make them water-resistant. But as Mark Twain said, "A lie can travel hal-way around the world while Truth is still putting on her boots".

uncc -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 12:44:47 AM)
don't forget FUBAR [:)]

Jevhaddah -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 2:18:49 AM)
Going off Half-Cocked: Firing yer musket without setting the striker to Full Cock, Doing something before yer really ready or prepared. Shooting yer bolt: Firing yer rifle without a round in the chamber, playing mummys and daddys and not making it over the finish line [8D]Probably means other things in other parts of the world [:D] Cheers Jev

Sarge -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 3:27:32 AM)
'Nuts'

Jeffrey H. -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 3:58:25 AM)
Just a flash in the pan - Something brief and meaningless. I always felt that this was a term from muzzleloading rifles.

Johnus -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 4:56:55 AM)
I thought having "shot your bolt" means having "fired" your crossbow and, hence, having done your best.

Ironfist738 -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 10:26:56 AM)
" Damn the Torpedoe's " I beleave was a battle cry from a American Naval officer. means: Forward / Attack at any cost.

reg113 -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (3/14/2008 6:40:25 PM)
David G. Farragut, Battle of Mobile Bay. Did not have any minesweepers with him (hadn't been invented yet). Attack stalled under the guns of Fort Morgan when monitor Tecumseh was sunk by a mine (torpedoe).

Zap -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 8:49:13 AM)
Can anyone tell us what these military acronyms are[;)] DFAC=? TRATS=?

Krasny -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 11:27:20 AM)
I hear the term 'Hang-Fire' used incorrectly all the time.

JudgeDredd -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 11:46:01 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Ironfist738 " Damn the Torpedoe's " I beleave was a battle cry from a American Naval officer. means: Forward / Attack at any cost. Sorry...who actually says "Damn the Torpedoes" in everyday life? [:D] And maybe I shouldn't have picked on yours specifically...HansBolter's MRE is another (and the one about the French rifle)...the thread is about military sayings used in everyday life...hence the topic title...Military Sayings in Everyday Life" Just thought I'd point out the error of peoples ways [:'(]

Twotribes -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 12:01:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd quote: ORIGINAL: Ironfist738 " Damn the Torpedoe's " I beleave was a battle cry from a American Naval officer. means: Forward / Attack at any cost. Sorry...who actually says "Damn the Torpedoes" in everyday life? [:D] And maybe I shouldn't have picked on yours specifically...HansBolter's MRE is another (and the one about the French rifle)...the thread is about military sayings used in everyday life...hence the topic title...Military Sayings in Everyday Life" Just thought I'd point out the error of peoples ways [:'(] Living up to your name Judge Dred?

Sarge -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 12:22:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zap Can anyone tell us what these military acronyms are[;)] DFAC=? TRATS=? Dinning facility/ Chow hall As for �TRATS� I�m not sure but I have heard it used. I think it has something to do with Tactical Reconnaissance Assessment ?

MadmanRick -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 2:03:11 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zap Can anyone tell us what these military acronyms are[;)] DFAC=? TRATS=? DFAC = Dining Facility TRATS = Tin Tray Rations

PunkReaper -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 4:06:40 PM)
How about, "The die is cast", attributed to Julius Caesar on crossing the Rubicon. Either means the dice has been rollled i.e the gamble has been made or the matter is fixed i.e the metal has been cast.

Nixuebrig -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 4:09:17 PM)
in german 0815 = means nothing unusual , average, nothing new etc.

andym -> RE: Military Sayings in Everyday Life (7/4/2008 5:38:31 PM)
ROMFT Roll On My F**king Time(Twelve) Term used by a hacked off or RDP matelot. RDP Run Down Period,the period of time before the rating is released from Service,usually spent dodging work and a lot of loafing.

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