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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: wingnutx on November 20, 2006, 07:03:48 AM

Title: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 20, 2006, 07:03:48 AM
This guy is collecting GI expressions.

http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=1534

Found via Blackfive.net
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Eleven Mike on November 20, 2006, 07:14:40 AM
FOB?  Fobbit? 
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 20, 2006, 07:32:04 AM
FOB = Forward Operating Base, i.e. a secure base of operations

Fobbit = somebody that never goes outside the wire.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: 280plus on November 20, 2006, 10:27:51 AM
FUBAR - "fouled" up beyond all repair 

SNAFU - Situation normal, all "fouled" up

Then there's one I just saw yesterday that brought back fond memories

SOS "poop" on a shingle - (Creamed chipped beef on toast)  In this resturant I was at they called it "The General MacArthur"  grin
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 20, 2006, 10:30:13 AM
I like SOS.

My brother in law is a gourmet chef, and SOS is his favorite dish.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Eleven Mike on November 20, 2006, 10:43:41 AM
Quote
FUBAR - "fouled" up beyond all repair 
SNAFU - Situation normal, all "fouled" up

We could trade the old stand-bys all day long, but I think we're looking for new or obscure military slang here.  No offense intended, Mr. Plus.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: 280plus on November 20, 2006, 11:59:13 AM
 Sorry, I was only trying to help sad

 grin

Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Devonai on November 20, 2006, 07:49:44 PM
Off the top of my head:

TCN: Third-Country National

POG: Persons Other than Grunts

Pogey Bait: Food or other small items of value for trading with the above

Woobie: Poncho liner

Snivel Gear: Any extra cold weather gear you feel like bringing

MRE: Meal, Rarely Edible

Edit: Yep, they're all there.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: doczinn on November 20, 2006, 08:57:53 PM
Hmmm, I've got some Gastro-Intestinal "expressions" for him.

 grin
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Eleven Mike on November 21, 2006, 03:08:26 AM
Actually, the word is "pogue" and has many etymological explanations, most of them implying that the "pogue" is a homosexual.  "Personnel Other than Grunt" appears to have been made up after the fact.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 21, 2006, 05:30:48 AM
The Pogues are a great Irish band, too.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: charby on November 21, 2006, 06:52:35 AM
FNG= F'ing New Guy

Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Eleven Mike on November 21, 2006, 07:29:33 AM
F'ing old slang.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: The Rabbi on November 21, 2006, 11:13:28 AM
Hajji, the current enemy.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 21, 2006, 11:34:30 AM
Haji is everybody over there, good, bad, or otherwise.

Local shops are 'haji stores'.

Civilians from other countries are TCNs.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: peteinct on November 21, 2006, 12:03:51 PM
P J O"Rourke said in his book "Give War a Chance" that MRE stood for meals refused by ethiopians.

pete
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 21, 2006, 12:06:37 PM
I've hear 'rejected by ethiopians' a lot.

Great book, btw.

Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: doczinn on November 21, 2006, 12:34:56 PM
FWIW, "Hajji," although often used as a pejorative, is closer to a term of respect. It denotes a Muslim who has performed the hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Perd Hapley on November 21, 2006, 12:38:05 PM
That's true, but I've always assumed that the Iraqis and other Mid-Eastern Muslims out there would take it as a mocking use of one of their religious terms.  But perhaps I am wrong.  Does anyone know how they react to way our soldiers use the term?
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: doczinn on November 21, 2006, 12:43:10 PM
Quote
I've always assumed that the Iraqis and other Mid-Eastern Muslims out there would take it as a mocking use of one of their religious terms
They probably would, but I've never heard it used when speaking to them, only when speaking about them with other Americans.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: Perd Hapley on November 21, 2006, 12:58:06 PM
Are you in-country, Doc?
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: wingnutx on November 21, 2006, 01:26:10 PM
Haji is used similar to how the Brits use 'yank'.

As a noun or an adjective.
Title: Re: Current GI idioms and phrases in the FOB and Fobbit-era
Post by: doczinn on November 21, 2006, 02:20:32 PM
Quote
Are you in-country, Doc?
Not since September 2003!