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LANGUAGE | MILITARY | LISTICLE
14 Common Words and Idioms That Come from the Military
Frequently used English words and phrases that initially were used by the military
The English language is constantly evolving. New words and phrases are added to our lexicon every year. We borrow terms from other languages, from new technology, from business, and literature.
Like any organizations, the military has some words and phrases that develop and get used internally that mean something specific to them. When the soldiers interact with civilians, the idioms they use find their way into everyday language.
Here is a list of fourteen common idioms that are used in English speaking countries around the world that first derived from use in the military.
1. AWOL
Most people are aware of the military connection to the acronym that has become a commonly used word in the English language, awol. It, of course, stands for Absent Without Leave.
In the military, it is a serious offense and used to describe military personnel who have abandoned their post. The English language has adopted it to mean something is simply gone or missing.
