Military & Patriotic

American slang from military culture and patriotic expressions

简介

美国的军事文化为日常英语贡献了许多表达。「hooah」「squared away」「boots on the ground」最初来自军队，后来进入了平民语言。

这一章涵盖来自美国军事文化的俚语——反映美国军队纪律、战友情谊和爱国精神的词汇。

主题

本章全部美式英语俚语（93）

• Hooah An all-purpose Army exclamation meaning yes, understood, or expressing enthus...
• Squared away Well organized, prepared, and in proper order.
• FUBAR Completely messed up beyond any hope of repair.
• SNAFU A mistake or problem; a chaotic situation.
• Roger that Message received and understood; yes, I understand.
• Semper Fi Short for 'Semper Fidelis' (Always Faithful) — the US Marine Corps motto.
• Klick One kilometer; a unit of distance used in the military.
• MIA Missing in Action; absent or unaccounted for.
• AWOL Absent Without Official Leave; missing without permission.
• Rank and file The ordinary members of an organization, as opposed to leadership.
• Fall in Get into formation; join the group and get ready.
• Stand down Relax; stop being aggressive or confrontational; return to a non-alert state.
• Gung ho Extremely enthusiastic and eager, sometimes overly so.
• Grunt An infantry soldier; someone who does the hard, unglamorous work.
• Sitrep Situation report; an update on the current status.
• Friendly fire Accidental attack on allies; unintentional harm from someone on your own side.
• Zero dark thirty Very early in the morning, before dawn; an unspecified early hour.
• Battle buddy A partner assigned to you for mutual support; a close, trusted friend.
• Lock and load Get ready for action; prepare yourself.
• Cadence A rhythmic chant sung while marching or running in military formation.
• Collateral damage Unintended harm or consequences; innocent people or things caught in the cros...
• Foxhole A defensive fighting position; a place of shelter during danger.
• Dog tags Military identification tags worn around the neck.
• Chain of command The hierarchical structure of authority from top to bottom.
• Got your six I've got your back; I'm watching out for you.
• Mission creep A gradual expansion of a project or task beyond its original scope.
• Rallying cry A phrase or slogan that unites and motivates a group.
• Tour of duty A period of service in a specific assignment; a rotation at a job or role.
• Draft dodger Someone who illegally avoids mandatory military service.
• The brass High-ranking officers; the bosses or top leadership.
• Jarhead A US Marine; slang nickname for Marines.
• Civvies Civilian clothes; non-military clothing.
• Debrief A review session after an event; to discuss what happened and what was learned.
• Flak Criticism; backlash; strong negative feedback.
• Bombshell Shocking news or revelation; also a very attractive woman.
• Go ballistic To become extremely angry; to lose control with rage.
• Drop and give me twenty A command to do twenty push-ups immediately; used as a punishment or demand f...
• Ground zero The exact point of impact; the center or origin of something.
• Deploy To send out or put into action; to leave for a military assignment.
• Pulling rank Using your seniority or authority to get your way.
• On the front lines At the forefront of an effort; in the most exposed or active position.
• Under fire Being attacked; receiving heavy criticism or pressure.
• Gear up To prepare; to get ready for something; to equip yourself.
• Smoke 'em out To force someone out of hiding; to expose or reveal someone.
• Call to arms An urgent summons to take action; a rally to fight for a cause.
• Baptism by fire A harsh first experience that tests you immediately; learning by being thrown...
• Oorah The battle cry of the US Marine Corps, expressing motivation and esprit de co...
• Hooyah The battle cry of the US Navy, especially Navy SEALs, expressing motivation a...
• Copy that Understood; message received — used to acknowledge information.
• Wilco Will comply — I have received your message and will act on it.
• Oscar Mike On the Move — heading out, currently in transit.
• Charlie Mike Continue Mission — keep going, don't stop despite obstacles.
• Lima Charlie Loud and Clear — I can hear you perfectly; I understand completely.
• Bravo Zulu Well done; good job — a naval signal of commendation.
• Whiskey Tango Foxtrot The NATO phonetic alphabet spelling of WTF — expressing shock or disbelief.
• Tango down Enemy eliminated; target neutralized; task completed.
• Pop smoke To leave quickly; to deploy a smoke grenade for concealment during extraction.
• Watch your six Watch your back; be aware of danger behind you.
• Embrace the suck Accept and endure a terrible situation that you cannot change.
• Hurry up and wait A frustrating pattern of rushing to prepare, then having nothing to do.
• Downrange Deployed to a combat zone; in the direction of the target.
• Stateside In or relating to the United States; back home in America.
• OPSEC Operational Security — keeping sensitive information secret.
• FOB Forward Operating Base — a secured military position near a combat zone.
• The sandbox The Middle East, especially Iraq — military slang referencing the desert terr...
• Squid A Navy sailor — used as a nickname, sometimes affectionate, sometimes teasing.
• Flyboy An Air Force pilot or member; someone in military aviation.
• Devil dog A nickname for a US Marine, worn as a badge of honor.
• Leatherneck A US Marine — from the leather collar once part of the Marine uniform.
• Blue falcon Someone who betrays or undermines their fellow soldiers; a buddy who stabs yo...
• DD-214 The military discharge document — symbolizing freedom from service and return...
• Torpedo To sabotage or destroy something; to deliberately ruin a plan or effort.
• MRE Meal Ready to Eat — the standard military field ration, notorious for its taste.
• Shell-shocked Stunned, dazed, or overwhelmed by a traumatic or shocking experience.
• Taps The bugle call played at military funerals and to signal lights out.
• GI Joe A generic American soldier; also the famous action figure and media franchise.
• Boot camp Basic military training; any intense, rigorous training program.
• Loose cannon An unpredictable person who may cause damage; someone who acts recklessly.
• D-Day The decisive day; the day of a major event or operation.
• Uncle Sam A personification of the United States government.
• Fallout The negative consequences or aftermath of an event or decision.
• Nuclear option The most extreme possible response; a last resort that causes maximum damage.
• Minefield A dangerous, risky situation full of hidden problems.
• Bunker mentality A defensive, siege-like mindset where you isolate from outside criticism.
• Target on your back Being singled out for attack, criticism, or competition.
• BOHICA Bend Over, Here It Comes Again — bracing for another round of bad news or bur...
• All hands on deck Everyone is needed; a call for total participation in an urgent situation.
• Tank To fail badly; to deliberately lose; to collapse or crash.
• About-face A complete reversal of direction, opinion, or policy.
• Pass muster To meet the required standard; to be acceptable or good enough.
• Going commando Humorous slang meaning not wearing underwear, used jokingly in casual convers...
• At ease Relax; stand comfortably; stop being so formal or tense.
• Reveille The morning wake-up call; the signal to start the day.