How have America’s Wars Changed The English Language?

2015-10-15T08:08:30-04:00

http://taskandpurpose.com/how-americas-wars-have-changed-the-english-language/
RP Members here is anothewr one of those posts/questions that got lost over time in RallyPoint, but it was good one worth sharing again!

What are some the words or phrases that have been coined while you served in the combat zone or during the past wars?

Throughout history, American speech has adopted thousands of soldier-coined slang into everyday language.

However unintentionally, soldiers have become architectures of language and profound agents of change throughout history.

Words are paltry things even when compared to peaceful, everyday human experience, and war words are often invented to describe things that are brutally indescribable, bring humor to things that are not funny, and create designations for things that are otherwise unidentifiable.

How America’s Wars Have Changed The English Language

Throughout history, American speech has adopted thousands of soldier-coined slang into everyday language.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 8:14 AM

2015-10-15T08:14:51-04:00

I think our language changed some. Lets look at our entertainment industry, movies, tv and music are filled with military terminology. WHat about fashion industry? as Trump says its HUGE.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-10-15T08:37:41-04:00

COL Mikel Burroughs, What I have learned over my time on this earth is that a lot of the acronyms that we find in the military have made their way into the publics lexicon such as ASAP, BLUF, COA, DOA, etc. In Afghanistan a term used often, Fobbit, was someone who never went out side the wire or homesteaded on the FOB, COP, or Camp.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 15 at 2015 9:10 AM

2015-10-15T09:10:23-04:00

Yes I concur COL Mikel J. Burroughs our wars going back to the 17th century when we fought with and against the native Americans, French, British, Germanic soldiers began to influence our language and culture - tomahawk, scalping, war party come to mind. The civil war although fought with Americans added words and phrases which took on tremendous impact - emancipation, Gettysburg, Bull Run, ironclad, march to the sea.
We picked up British words in the 20th century from England [spam], Australia [outback] and New Zealand as we fought alongside them in WWI and even more as we launched our forces from bases in those nations.
In Germany where we have been stationed since 1945 we identified with with JFK when he said "Ich bin ein Berliner" ands we added autobahn, Frankfurter, Pomme Frites, jack boots, Krauts, Jerries, and Fritz were terms used for Germans. Graf used to be a German title but now it reminds us of Grafenwoehr training area.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 15 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-10-15T09:53:07-04:00

Thoughtful...

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-10-15T10:23:10-04:00

Shit Pushed In or SPI - to be shot or blown up in a IED strike.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Oct 15 at 2015 10:30 AM

2015-10-15T10:30:41-04:00

It can work both ways...
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2010/05/10/common-military-to-civilian-translations/

Common Military-to-Civilian Translations - ClearanceJobs

The following common military to civilian translations and tips can help you get your point across to potential employers.

Response by MSG Alfred Aguilar made Oct 17 at 2015 2:39 AM

2015-10-17T02:39:19-04:00

The term "the whole nine yards" comes from the military. Machine gun belts came in nine yard belts. A soldier who fired on the enemy would say, "I gave him the whole nine yards."

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 11:06 PM

2015-10-26T23:06:06-04:00

Some of the terms widely used in Vietnam was REM's, dinks, boom boom, dinkydow, Zippo raid, baby son, c rats (C Rations), di di (Dee Dee), Di Di Mau.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2017 11:32 PM

2017-12-28T23:32:48-05:00

Phrases like Chief of Staff were coined from the military even the term company is from the military back in the middle ages where you had companies of warriors.

Me in my personal life I use terms like ORM and METTTC quite often.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 29 at 2017 11:35 AM

2017-12-29T11:35:05-05:00

Words of War sneaked into our everyday language from almost every war. "Over the top" (WWI climbing out of the trenches to attack) Not so much from my war, the Vietnam War. I wrote on this topic in my own blog where I reflected that Vietnam Veterans left their vernacular behind them for much the same reason that they hid their uniforms when they returned home: To avoid being persecuted by their "friends" and neighbors...
http://jackdurish.com/jacks-blog/can-you-interpret-words-of-war

Can you interpret words of war?

EVERYDAY LANGUAGE IS rich with idioms and phrases derived from wars throughout the ages: Act of War, All's Fair in Love and War, Axe to Grind, Bite the Bullet, Drop the Bombshell, Great Guns, In Your...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-12-29T11:37:04-05:00

I like the term "balls to the wall" from pilots meaning going full throttle or giving it your all. COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 29 at 2017 12:07 PM

2017-12-29T12:07:11-05:00

Not a term or word as such, but the "Falcon Codes" that aircrews used during Vietnam to pass 'salty language' in the clear over the radios in post strike reports.

Response by Erin Nelson made Dec 30 at 2017 6:22 PM

2017-12-30T18:22:48-05:00

That is an interesting question, one that I had neither thought of or have a basis to converse from.
So I will watch and learn from what others have to say,

Thank you colonel for the thought provoking share

Response by LTC Greg Henning made Dec 31 at 2017 1:50 PM

2017-12-31T13:50:20-05:00

SNAFU[edit]
Main article: SNAFU
SNAFU, which is widely used to stand for the sarcastic expression Situation Normal: All Fucked Up, as a well-known example of military acronym slang, however the original military acronym stood for "Status Nominal: All Fucked Up." It is sometimes bowdlerized to all fouled up or similar.[4] It means that the situation is bad, but that this is a normal state of affairs. It is typically used in a joking manner to describe something that's working as intended. The acronym is believed to have originated in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.[citation needed]

Time magazine used the term in their June 16, 1942 issue: "Last week U.S. citizens knew that gasoline rationing and rubber requisitioning were snafu."[5] Most reference works, including the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, supply an origin date of 1940–1944, generally attributing it to the U.S. Army.

Rick Atkinson ascribes the origin of SNAFU, FUBAR, and a bevy of other terms to cynical GIs ridiculing the Army's penchant for acronyms.[6]

Private Snafu is the title character of a series of military instructional films, most of which were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Philip D. Eastman, and Munro Leaf.[7]

In modern usage, snafu is sometimes used as an interjection, though it is mostly now used as a noun. Snafu also sometimes refers to a bad situation, mistake, or cause of trouble. It is more commonly used in modern vernacular to describe running into an error or problem that is large and unexpected. For example, in 2005, The New York Times published an article titled "Hospital Staff Cutback Blamed for Test Result Snafu".[8]

The attribution of SNAFU to the American military is not universally accepted: it has also been attributed to the British,[9] although the Oxford English Dictionary gives its origin and first recorded use as US military.[5]

In a wider study of military slang, Frederick Elkin noted in 1946 that there "are a few acceptable substitutes such as 'screw up' or 'mess up,' but these do not have the emphasis value of the obscene equivalent." He considered the expression SNAFU to be "a caricature of Army direction. The soldier resignedly accepts his own less responsible position and expresses his cynicism at the inefficiency of Army authority." He also noted that "the expression … is coming into general civilian use."[10]

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Dec 31 at 2017 2:27 PM

2017-12-31T14:27:13-05:00

https://youtu.be/vrf_OmVWU2E

TARFU
TARFU (Totally And Royally Fucked Up or Things Are Really Fucked Up) was also used during World War II.

The 1944 U.S. Army animated shorts Three Brothers and Private Snafu Presents Seaman Tarfu In The Navy (both directed by Friz Freleng), feature the characters Private Snafu, Private Fubar, and Seaman Tarfu (with a cameo by Bugs Bunny).

Private Snafu - Three Brothers (1944)

We meet the 2 brothers of Private Snafu -- a pigeon keeper named Tarfu & a dog trainer named Fubar.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 31 at 2017 6:03 PM

2017-12-31T18:03:34-05:00

Thank you for the interesting share COL.

Response by LTC Jesse Edwards made Dec 31 at 2017 8:36 PM

2017-12-31T20:36:43-05:00

These wars invented the word "FOBBIT" I think for the guys that did their level best to NEVER leave the Forward Operating Base (FOB). Plus its a fun word.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 1 at 2018 12:27 PM

2018-01-01T12:27:41-05:00

Who can forget "Jerry-Rigged". Jerry=German.

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Jan 1 at 2018 1:32 PM

2018-01-01T13:32:44-05:00

The examples shared here were once quite common and some even adapted to civilian life but are all but gone today. Here are a few of probably thousands:
"Gold Brick" comes to mind as someone who shirks his duty; an empty uniform. Comes from the idea that it shines like a brick of gold but is useless.
"Yard Bird" is another one we do not hear too often anymore. It refers to a PW or a military prisoner who walks around the prison yard.
"A Lover" that is someone who is a lover, not a fighter and not generally well liked by members of the unit.
"Slick" A UH-10
"Slick Sleeve" A person with no rank
"Shave Tail" 2nd Lt. - also, "90 day wonder" (OCS graduate) and "Butter Bar"
"Joe No-Shoulder's" a snake
"Hooch" Alcoholic beverage of one type or another (Still hear this one on occasion)
"Hooch" Living quarters (predominately infantry) in Viet Nam
"Hooch Maid" Viet Nam woman who cleaned your hooch
"Puff the Magic Dragon" or just "Puff" for short; taken from the song by the same name and applied to aircraft with a mini gun - usually a C-130
Thanks for the post - this was a bit of fun today!

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jan 1 at 2018 2:04 PM

2018-01-01T14:04:03-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maybe some of you old times can add to this. When I was about 15 my dad told me he had never seen int “one finger salute“ before WWII. He told me after the soldiers started coming home, it became common. Although it is not a word is a form of our language.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 1 at 2018 8:47 PM

2018-01-01T20:47:33-05:00

Schiessetopf; s——Head...

Response by SGT Ty Henderson made Jan 2 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-01-02T19:22:16-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs When I was attending a fine Oklahoma university that is not OU, I took a history class on Vietnam. It didn't really have much to do with the military but instead it focused on the impact to civilians and the governments of Vietnam and the USA. As we studied the influence of the war, my professor engaged us in conversation about football and the influence of military jargon on the sport. Up until then (1996ish) I hadn't thought about it, but my class spent about 30 minutes coming up with phrases and words that seemed to be derived from the military. When you posed the question here on RP, I looked around and found an old article that could have been derived from my class 20+ years ago. http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2009/11/flag_football.html

flag_football.html

Response by MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan made Jan 2 at 2018 8:09 PM

2018-01-02T20:09:45-05:00

A couple that come to mind but that are pretty much military or job field specific are "FIGMO"..."Finally I Got My Orders"; the other is somewhat unique to the weather career field, although pilots will be familiar with it and that is "Clear, blue and 22"...clear for unlimited visibility, blue for blue skies, and the 22 never was explained to me, but it sure does rhyme well.

Response by Sgt Albert Castro made Jan 2 at 2018 9:41 PM

2018-01-02T21:41:13-05:00

This post really provoked some great responses. I think a lot of words GIs used during the Viet Nam War and some years after (say 1960- 1980), have faded away. Some words and phrases have faded away from lack of use because they have no relevance now days I think. Frag, fubar, hooch, 90 day wonder, West Point Wizard, skosh, Rikki tik, Momma San, Numba hanna (#1), Numba 10 (the worst) and the ever popular Viet Nam phrase, fucking A or fucking a Tweety are some that come to mind. What a great topic Colonel Burroughs.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2018 1:20 AM

2018-01-03T01:20:54-05:00

Having never served I have never heard a New word. But I like Eisenhower's word, 'snafu', similar to 'fubar' but I don't think 'fubar' was a military creation !

Response by SSG William Wall made Jan 3 at 2018 4:37 PM

2018-01-03T16:37:27-05:00

Caught myself saying, "...in that arena," a few minutes ago. SELF-BUSTED!

Response by SSG Diane R. made Jan 3 at 2018 5:47 PM

2018-01-03T17:47:08-05:00

"Gook" originated in the Phillipines during the Spanish American war, 1898.

Response by Cpl Scott McCarroll made Jan 3 at 2018 9:02 PM

2018-01-03T21:02:28-05:00

FUBAR

Response by PO2 Kevin Parker made Jan 3 at 2018 11:21 PM

2018-01-03T23:21:02-05:00

"Ship shape", Keel Haul, not sure if they were from war times but I heard them growing up. Even from my SGM father. I'm sure there are plenty of them out there. They just aren't coming to me right now.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Jan 3 at 2018 11:47 PM

2018-01-03T23:47:27-05:00

One phrase comes to mind as invented by G.I.s in the Korean conflict: "You're in deep kimchi."

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jan 4 at 2018 4:58 AM

2018-01-04T04:58:19-05:00

During Desert Storm we talked of missions which had gone Tango Uniform ("tits up") for gone wro g

Response by Col Robert Wallace made Jan 4 at 2018 9:07 AM

2018-01-04T09:07:26-05:00

Good morning Col. Burroughs & all RP members. One that comes to mind is the French expression "Je parlez avec vous" - "I want to speak with you". The word "parlez" became corrupted to "parlay" and can mean "talk", ie: "Let's parlay". Frankfurt, Germany, was noted for its small sausages, or weiners. The Daschund was bred to chase prey into holes, thus is long and small. Resembling a weiner, it became known as a Weiner Dog. Introduction of weiner sausages to the US and because it resembled the Weiner Dog and served hot, it became the Hot Dog. Some places still advertise them as Weiners.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Jan 4 at 2018 9:28 AM

2018-01-04T09:28:27-05:00

They are 100 of words the military uses to describe any and ever thing. And each service has their own words. I sure everyone knows what a Buff is. Or the Vietnam generation what a Thud is. I guess that is why it is so easy to talk to a vet.

Response by SSG Thomas Barry made Jan 4 at 2018 11:12 AM

2018-01-04T11:12:00-05:00

True dat lol

Response by SSG Thomas Barry made Jan 4 at 2018 11:13 AM

2018-01-04T11:13:13-05:00

Lead follow get out the way and dont be a remf

Response by SSgt James Tadlock made Jan 4 at 2018 12:04 PM

2018-01-04T12:04:25-05:00

William Cantrell, MSgt, First Sergeant used to tell me to, "keep my nose clean" meaning listen to me and do as I say.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jan 4 at 2018 1:45 PM

2018-01-04T13:45:37-05:00

"Gook", although used as a racial reference to Asians , is actually comes from a Korean word, "guk", meaning person. A Korean is a Hanguk; an American is a Meguk. I assume the use of the word came from an encounter between a Korean and a GI.
And that is the extent of my knowledge on that term.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jan 4 at 2018 3:43 PM

2018-01-04T15:43:22-05:00

High and Tight for a G.I. Haircut, Good to Hook, Good to Go,

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jan 5 at 2018 8:51 AM

2018-01-05T08:51:16-05:00

And of course there is "snafu" one of my favorites

Response by Capt Christian D. Orr made Jan 6 at 2018 5:28 AM

2018-01-06T05:28:24-05:00

Blue Falcon: Buddy Fucker

BOHICA: Bend Over, Here It Comes Again

Charlie Foxtrot: Clusterfuck

Response by PO2 John Driskill made Jan 14 at 2018 12:05 PM

2018-01-14T12:05:05-05:00

The word "Chushy" came from an Indian word "Kush" in World War One. Men going to the front would pass the troops they were relieving and ask them what it was like? The answer was that it was "Chushy."

Response by SFC Ken Heise made Jan 15 at 2018 1:56 PM

2018-01-15T13:56:50-05:00

Oldie but a goodie:
KISS

Response by TSgt Ed Turner made Jan 22 at 2018 11:36 AM

2018-01-22T11:36:52-05:00

We picked up words like "yo-yo" and "boondock" from the Phillipines, "banzai" and "kamikaze" from Japan. "Hoochie" may not originally been Asian, but its pejorative usage certainly traces to the Vietnam conflict.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Jan 24 at 2018 1:07 PM

2018-01-24T13:07:58-05:00

Terms used strictly by military or veterans now widely used by others. For instance fubar, the suck and the struggle is real

Response by CPT Don Kemp made Jan 30 at 2018 8:38 PM

2018-01-30T20:38:43-05:00

If we go back a number of years, we have “Lock, Stock, & Barrel” meaning the entire firearm consisting of the wooden stock, barrel, and flint lock. It has come to mean everything included.
“Don’t be a flash in the pan” referred to a flintlock musket where the firing cap ignited gun powder in the pan but it didn’t result in firing the projectile.
“Don’t go off half-cocked” came from the half-cock position which would not allow the weapon to be fired.
“GI” originally meant Government Issue but has become synonymous with soldiers.
“Jeep”, I believe, came from General Purpose, abbreviated as GP.

Response by TSgt Michael Williamson made Jan 31 at 2018 1:30 PM

2018-01-31T13:30:32-05:00

Gung Ho is a classic one.

Response by SN James MacKay made Jan 31 at 2018 1:43 PM

2018-01-31T13:43:44-05:00

I was a Carrier Sailor, and the one thing I recall, is bad luck being called Air Breaks, or more completely, "That's the breaks of Naval Air." Leave request denied, Air Breaks; nabbed by Shore Patrol, Air Breaks. dinged at Inspection.....

Response by CW5 John M. made Jan 31 at 2018 2:13 PM

2018-01-31T14:13:32-05:00

Roger that, newbie, Lifer, stick time, Say ETA again, 100-mile-an-hour tape, living in the “hootch”, or going to the “ville”? Cluster f—, Romeo Foxtrot, head shed, light em up, 40mm “chunker”

Response by PO3 Pat Hagan made Jan 31 at 2018 3:17 PM

2018-01-31T15:17:50-05:00

So many responses I couldn't read them all. Has anyone mentioned the acronym FUBYOYO ? A Navy diver told me this one a long time ago. Means F@#k you Buddy, You're On Your Own.

Also I see everyone has avoided the worst of all ... Who has ever had a run in with that scoundrel of scoundrels "Jodie" ?

Response by PO1 Joseph Smith made Feb 2 at 2018 3:19 AM

2018-02-02T03:19:30-05:00

"Big Chicken Dinner" is one I've heard in movies, so I know it carried over to the civilian world.
"Cup of Joe" Navy tradition claims this to be from when Admiral Josephus “Joe” Daniels banned alcohol on ships. Thus making coffee the strongest drink available.
"Pay the Devil" or "Devil to Pay," though not originally military I'm guessing, is still a nautical term. The "devil" was the keel of a wooden ship and to keep it watertight, someone would have to pay it with tar. Usually someone being punished would have to do it.
Words like "fleet" and "squad" obviously came from the military.
"Toe the Line" and "Scuttlebutt" are a couple more Navy terms.
I've heard civilians say something like "we're Oscar Mike" when headed out somewhere.
"Blue Falcon." "Dear John," and "Shit on a Shingle" need no explanation.
"Go Fast" is a term we used when I was doing Counter-Drug Operations (CD OPS) in the Caribbean back in the 90's. It refers to a cigarette boat...which might also be from the military if we count the Coast Guard. lol
Other than those, all I can think of is stuff like "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and plenty of other acronym related terms already mentioned by others.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Feb 23 at 2018 9:23 PM

2018-02-23T21:23:04-05:00

Sp4 Byron Skinner. No offense but this question is asked backwards. How has the English language adopted to wars. The word "Fuck" predates Shakespeare, an early definition of the word could be …fornication under connect of the King. To appreciate the influence of language on war is to go and read all 1,162 lines of Beowulf and the see what modern translations might be to describe how language tries to describe war.

Response by CPO David Sharp made Mar 11 at 2018 11:57 AM

2018-03-11T11:57:52-04:00

SNAFU, FUBAR, WTF, say again and many abbreviated responses.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2018 11:58 AM

2018-03-31T11:58:19-04:00

This is one term that comes to mind, that was used by my Drill Sergeants in Basic Training (1983).
yardbird
[yahrd-burd]
Spell Syllables
Word Origin
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
noun, Slang.
1. a convict or prisoner.
2. an army recruit.
3. a soldier confined to camp and assigned to cleaning the grounds or other menial tasks as punishment for violation of the rules.

Origin of Yardbird
1940-1945, Americanism; yard2+ bird, by analogy with jailbird