croatalin's definitions

Scrounging

British slang for obtaining goods or services without having to pay for them. This can be for personal advantage or to further a project or piece of work; it can also be to obtain goods, materials or money for a charitable organisation.

How did you get the job finished so quickly?
Johnny went out scrounging and brought back some plastic piping, brand new, that someone had dumped in a skip.

by Croatalin May 11, 2014

STRAC

STRictly ACcording (to regulations) an epithet applied to officers and NCOs who 'go by the book' and seem totally unable to think for themselves. The military equivalent of a Jobsworth, frequently linked with REMF.

Frequent complaint from the Vietnam War, "That STRAC REMF insisted we polish our boots before going out into the boonies to hunt Charlie"

by croatalin August 20, 2013

Jesus Nut

There are a number of different meanings for Jesus Nut among the commonest are:-

a) In US Army slang, to describe something or someone vitally important to an enterprise. Said to come from the mythical Jesus nut that, supposedly, holds on a helicopter’s rotors.
b) In US Army slang, as a term of contempt for someone with an over-inflated opinion of themselves.
c) An overenthusiastic Christian.

a) Jonesie's workin' on the radio again.
Yeah! He knows it's the goddam Jesus Nut when we're on patrol tomorrow.
b) Look at that STRAC REMF struttin' round. Who's he think he is, Jesus Nut to the whole goddam war?
c) That padre is a real Jesus Nut!

by Croatalin December 6, 2013

Cherries

US Army slang common during the Vietnam War, although possibly originating much earlier than this. It means a soldier who is a combat virgin who has not been 'blooded' and, therefore, one whose behaviour in combat is unpredictable. The arrival of a new soldier as a replacement in an established unit was always difficult, hence the referral to such an arrival as FNG (Fucking New Guy). Where this soldier had not seen combat the difficulty was compounded and the established troops viewed them with suspicion as an unknown quantity.

We just got a load of replacements for the guys evaced out last week, no lifers all FNG cherries.

by Croatalin April 27, 2014

Barbara Cartland

British expression of contempt. Originally a British female author who wrote incredibly predictable chick lit and was famous for a number of reason, such as having the longest entry in the publication "who's Who"; a belief that despite advanced age and decrepitude she was incredibly attractive to the male sex; the belief that under no circumstances could she possibly be wrong. Now expanded in use to describe any pretentious, arrogant, unattractive female with delusions about her looks, talent, knowledge and so on. If you see one coming towards you run as fast as possible in the other direction or arrange for her to be abducted by aliens and taken to a far galaxy.

Jane's had a poem published in a free magazine, now she's acting like she's won the Nobel prize for literature.
That stupid munter? What a Barbara Cartland!

by Croatalin April 24, 2014

Gasper

British Army slang believed to date from around the time of the Second Boer War 1899 - 1902, so called because smoking caused the troops to gasp for breath when engaged in strenuous exercise.

I'd just got clipped by a Boer bullet, nuffin' serious, so Jack gimme a gasper while he put a dressing on it.

by Croatalin December 2, 2013

Pygalgia

Originally a medical term used to describe the pain associated with piles, now used to describe someone who is a pain in the arse. See also rectalgia.

Malcolm must think the boss is suffering from piles, he's got his head so far up the boss's arse it's a suppository.
I don't know about the boss, but Malcolm gives me pygalgia.

by Croatalin December 30, 2013