Weapon Phrase Usage Fun.

[seamusalaska]

Even though this is 'gun' related, it's really about language. I was noticing how many weapon/gun phrases are in our language in everyday usage. I'll give some examples and then see what you come up with.

Someone is a "loose cannon" - out of control, doing damage

Someone in business is a "hired gun" - outside source

To "snipe at" someone - to pick on someone from the side

To be "right on target" - to be correct

Something is "the bomb" - the best (also if it "bombs", the worst)

To "jump the gun" - start before time, start before you're ready

To "gun your engine" - I don't know where this came from

Describe someone as a "straight shooter/ straight arrow" - honest

To "shoot off your mouth" - speak before thinking

Etc. I thought of more but wanted others to have fun with this.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Buying something lock, stock, and barrel.

 

[Jon Craig]

"I'm gonna shoot/kill that guy..." - when you're upset with someone

 

[shooter521]

"Going off half-cocked"

To be "under the gun"

 

[XMil]

Someone sitting in the passengers seat is "Riding shotgun".

If you don't want to hold back, you can "let go with both barrels."

If this b*****d doesn't straighten up, I'm going to "drop the hammer" on him.

Winning an argument: "Blowing someone out of the water"

 

[Bendrx]

"It's a blast" Clearly guns and explosives = FUN!!
"Finger on the trigger" itching to go forward.
"Keep your powder dry" Be ready/prepared - though not used much at all.
"He's got a hair trigger" Unstable

That's about all I can think of.

 

[JBusch8899]

Bull's eye! Referring to an ultra precise accomplishment of a goal, purpose, or statement.

 

[Bubba]

"Set your sights on..." - focus on a goal

"Bite the bullet" - accept some unpleasant consequence

 

[aclark]

"Shoot from the hip." - Act quickly, sometimes without regard

 

[TopDog]

"No Impact, No Idea" - Used to indicate that you have no comprehension of what is being said. Comes from Marine Corps rifle range when the line asks the butt's where a shooter is hitting and he is missing so bad they have no idea where the shooter is hitting.

"Disk a miss" - When someone is wrong about something. Comes from Marine Corps range response to a request for verification for a complete miss on a target.

Yea I still have my range officer card from many years ago.

 

[JBusch8899]

Off Target: Wrong; what should not be; malum in se

 

[JBusch8899]

Hot Load: Ummmm, you figure it out.

 

[Colt556]

Give em the whole 9 yards!

The machine gun belts in WWI measured 9 yards.

 

[SmileDocHill]

Give em the whole 9 yards!

The machine gun belts in WWI measured 9 yards.

Good one, you should have left it without the explanation to see how many people thought that was from something else. I've had several people tell me that was from football and a couple of other sources that I cannot remember.

 

[JetGirl]

you should have left it without the explanation

Geez, SmileDocHill...don't go ballistic on the guy!

 

[seamusalaska]

"Top Gun"....we all saw the movie.

Flak....as in, Don't give me any flak- WWII AA,AAA (German)

Go off half-cocked- (various definitions)

You old 'son-of-a-gun'- term of friendship

Smoking gun- a clue for detectives, any evidence pointing to a BG

To call someone, 'Big-Shot or Hot Shot' - means they're important

Call out the Big Guns- to ask for help from higher up

There must be more....our language is complex. Some words are military related although not to weapons. I was surprised to find that "Honcho" was a Japanese military term from WWII for 'squad leader'. Captured Japanese troops always directed the U.S. military interrogators toward the 'honcho'.

And there is always:
Ground Zero-atom bomb

 

[Colt556]

Geez, SmileDocHill...don't go ballistic on the guy!

Lol.... Good one Jet!

 

[chraland51]

You all forgot "kit and kaboodle" or however you spell it. I think that phrase had some reference to firearm accessories.

 

[XMil]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark here and say that the new Predators movie won't be a block-buster but it may be the first salvo of a good movie season providing plenty of artillery for movie critics to volley back and forth.

 

[cosermann]

I predict this thread will be just a "flash in the pan."