Military Euphemisms

I have a love-hate relationship with euphemisms... on one hand they're sometimes amusing. On the other hand they tend to hide the true horror of what's really going on to the general public. That may be a good or bad thing. So without further ado, here's a list of all the military euphemisms I could think if. Feel free to add your own! (non-military is fine too)

"Take Out" - Destroy
"Wet Work" - Assassination
"Area Denial Munitions" - Land Mines
"Physical Persuasion/Tough Questioning" - Torture
"Operational Exhaustion" - Shell Shock
"Department of Defense" - Department of War
"Neutralize" - Kill
"Collateral Damage" - Civilian Deaths
"Target of Opportunity" - Assassination
"Regime Change" - Overthrowing of a government
"Shock and Awe" - Blitzkrieg
"Surgical Strike" - The use of guided munitions
"Caught in cross-fire" - Innocents shot dead by soldiers
"Ethnic Cleansing" - Genocide
"Protective Custody" - Imprisonment without charge or trial
"Generous Offer" - Demand for Surrender
"Incursion" - Attacking with heavy metal
"Air Campaign" - Bombing
"Friendly Fire" - Death caused to one's own troops
"Prohibiting Transactions" - Economic embargo
"Soft targets" - humans
"All out strategic exchange" - Nuclear War
"Open up on" - Fire upon with all available weaponry
"Frag" - Kill a friendly soldier (now extended to enemies as well)
"Greenbacking" - Hiring mercenaries
"Monitoring" - Eavesdropping, spying
"Conventional weapon" - Non-nuclear weaponry
"Clean bomb" - Neutron bomb, only kills people leaving infrastructure intact
"Nerve agent" - Poison gas
"Strategic movement to the rear" - Retreat
"Pacify" - Lay waste to, destroy
"Pre-emptive strike" - Surprise attack
"Second strike capability" - Ability to retaliate with nuclear weaponry

I like that "Z".!!!

These are a few of US Navy slang.....

Ahoy: This old traditional greeting for hailing other boats, was originally a Viking battle-cry.

Airedale: A sailor working in an avation rating in the US Navy.

Anchors aweigh: The word "Aweigh" is from the old English "Woeg" to raise.

Aye, Aye: This affirmative expression is generally supposed to be a corruption of the words Yea, yea.

Big-wigs: This slang term for men in high positions officers.

Bo'sun: Deck hand. Boatswain mate. Often called "Boats"

Carry on: While the order "Carry On" now mean only to proceed with any duty.

Chits: The name "chit" for a note or voucher

Chief or CPO: Chief Petty Officer. Head enlisted persons.

Crow's nest: The ship's lookout station. The highest point on the mast.

Cumshaw: International seagoing term for petty graft or secret commissions. Used as "Cumshaw artist"..

Davey Jones: This name is a corruption of Jonah, the Biblical gentleman who is credited with having supplied Vitamin A to a whale for three days.

Dinghy: This name for a ship's smallest boat.

Ditty bag: Seabag, duffel bag or laundry bag.

Forecastle (fo'c'stle): Bow of the ship where the anchor and assoicated equipment is stored.

Galley: Where food is prepared and consumed by enlisted men.

Gedunk: Candy, gum snacks. Or the place where such items are sold and consumed.

Half mast: Flags are flown at half-mast for mourning.

Hunky-Dory: This term, meaning everything is O.K.

Knots: Short for nautical mile. Which is longer than a mile. Speed of a ship is judge in miles.

"Keep your shirt on:" Be patient

Leathernecks: U.S. Marines earned this name in 1812, when stiff leathers bands were sewn into their collars to ward off sword strokes.

Liberty: I.E. Shore leave. Off duty time off the ship.

Log book: A book where a written recod of various ships activities is kept..

Lucky Bag: A place for all lost articles.

Master-at Arms: Ships Police.

Plan of the Day: Ships general instructions and scheduled published each day and read at quaters.

Port side. Left side

Quaters: Roll Call & where the Plan of the Day is passed.

Salt: A person that has spent a lot of time at sea. Such as bd popeye

Sea Lawyer: Not a member of the legal fraternity by any means, but a surly fellow who is forever arguing about anything and everything aboard ship.

Sick Bay: Ship's hospitals

Sickcall: Going to sick bay during designated hours because of an illness.

Skylarking: Playing around or acting silly.

Skate: A lazy sailor who is good at getting out of work.

Squared away: Knowing your job or rate and presenting an excellent manner in everything.

Starboard side: Right side

Taps: Lights out. Bed time.

The three-mile limit: It is that three miles being the distance over which a nation has jurisdiction regarding coastal waters. Of course this has change over the years.

Wardroom: Offices eating area on board ship. Also a lounge and meeting place for officers.

There's plenty more...trust me..