15 military idioms
Let’s take a look at 15 military idioms. We’ve chosen phrases that are connected with the army, navy, or air force that have made their way into everyday speech. Join us to discover the stories behind phrases like „bite the bullet” and „the whole nine yards.”
To be in the trenches
To be working very hard or working in difficult situations.
To be a general
To be the leader or person in charge who makes important decisions.
To hold the fort
To keep everything under control, to take care of things while someone else is away (or until help arrives).
To go AWOL
To leave or disappear without permission, without telling anyone we’re going to be gone. It’s usually unexpected.
To be a rank and file
To be a member of the ordinary soldiers or workers, without any special privileges or authority.
To sound the retreat
To signal the end of an attack, the withdrawal of troops or to pull back from a difficult situation.
To be under siege
To be surrounded and under attack, either literally or because of many problems.
To take no prisoners
To be very ruthless and show no mercy, often because we’re trying to reach a goal or win a competition.
To fight fire with fire
To react to something with the same reaction. To respond to aggression or hostility with an equal or stronger force.
To sound the alarm
To warn or alert others about a danger or threat.
To go down in flames
To fail completely or experience a complete disaster.
To be on the front lines
To be at the forefront of an important activity or effort.
To beat swords into plowshares
To focus on peace and productive activities instead of fighting.
To call in reinforcements
To ask for more help in a tough situation.
To fight the good fight
To work hard for a good cause.
