A listener remembers her grandmother’s colorful comment when someone arrived late after getting lost: You went around your elbow to get to your thumb. Lots of similar sayings in English suggest roundabout routes or overcomplicated tasks, including...
recon by fire n.— «The danger is particularly acute at night. The Iraqis do not have night-vision equipment, so when they spot people approaching their checkpoints they have a tendency to do what the Americans refer to as “recon by fire.” If those...
dual-cool adj.— «The recipients of both parachutist and diver insignia are considered “dual-qualified” (or “dual-cool”) full-fledged “Reconnaissance Marines.”» —by Charles D. Melson Marine Recon 1940-90 Sept. 12, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued...
bubble head n.— «The 2d Class Diver badge “bubble head” was authorized for wear in 1974. The recipients of both parachutist and diver insignia are considered “dual-qualified” (or “dual-cool”) full-fledged “Reconnaissance Marines.”» —by Charles D...
twidget n.— «As the Marines laughingly said, once they had become fans of the use of sensors, “If you want it done right, keep the ‘twidgets’ out of the field!”» —by Alex Lee Force Recon Command: 3D Force Recon Company in Vietnam, 1969-70 Nov. 1...
