Military Lingo

adjective located behind a ship

adverb in a backward direction

• The ship slowly moved astern to dock at the port.
• He reversed the car astern into the parking spot.
• She decided to back the truck astern to avoid hitting the pole.
• The project seemed to be moving astern as deadlines were missed.

noun the final or utmost extremity; the conclusion or last part

adjective having a sharp, pungent taste; causing a sharp, unpleasant sensation

• The negotiations continued until the bitter end, but no agreement could be reached.
• We stayed at the party until the bitter end, dancing and chatting with friends.
• I'll stick with you until the bitter end, no matter what.
• She held onto hope until the bitter end, refusing to give up.

noun a person or animal that is physically strong and aggressive, often involved in fighting or violence

• The bruiser was known for his aggressive playing style on the football field.
• Watch out for that bruiser, he's a tough guy to beat in a fight.
• I heard that new guy is a real bruiser, so be careful around him.
• Her words were like a bruiser, leaving a lasting impact on everyone in the room.

noun A device used to charge a battery or rechargeable battery-powered device.

• The charger for my laptop is not working properly.
• Can you pass me the phone charger?
• I need to juice up my phone, do you have a charger?
• She is like a charger, always full of energy and ready to go.

verb to yield to someone else's judgment or opinion

preposition used to indicate that one person or thing belongs to or is associated with another

• In matters of legal interpretation, judges often defer to precedent.
• When it comes to choosing a restaurant, I usually defer to my friend's recommendation.
• I always defer to my mom when it comes to fashion advice.
• The team decided to defer to the expert's opinion on the best strategy to use.

noun a harmful or damaging action or effect, especially when done with the intention of helping or benefiting someone

• Providing inaccurate information to customers would be a disservice to them.
• Not telling your friend the truth would do them a disservice.
• Spreading rumors about someone is a major disservice.
• Choosing to ignore the warning signs would ultimately prove to be a disservice to yourself.

noun a slang term for a police officer, often used derogatorily to imply incompetence or lack of intelligence

• The police officer noticed the suspect's flatfoot as he attempted to flee the scene.
• I can always tell when my dad is coming because of his flatfoot.
• Don't worry about outrunning him, he's just a flatfoot.
• Her lack of creativity made her a flatfoot in the world of art.

noun a person or thing that is ineffective or in a vulnerable position, especially one that is nearing the end of a term in office

adjective referring to a person or thing that is ineffective or in a vulnerable position, especially one that is nearing the end of a term in office

• The term 'lame duck' is often used to refer to a politician who is nearing the end of their term and has limited power.
• After losing the election, the president became a lame duck for the remainder of his time in office.
• Once the CEO announced his resignation, he was seen as a lame duck by the rest of the company.
• The injured bird struggled to fly, resembling a lame duck trying to stay afloat in the water.

noun the space above one's head or the ceiling of a room

adjective located above or on top of something

• The overhead costs of running a business can be quite high.
• Don't forget to watch out for the overhead when budgeting for the project.
• I'm always trying to cut down on my overhead to save money.
• The dark clouds loomed overhead, signaling an incoming storm.

noun a standard of excellence, achievement, etc., against which similar things must be judged or measured

adjective on the same level or standard as something else

• The legal document required his signature in order to be considered valid.
• I need your John Hancock on this paper before we can move forward.
• Just scribble your name on here and we're good to go.
• His approval was the final piece of the puzzle needed to complete the project.

noun a race or competition in which participants must meet certain standards to compete

verb to meet the necessary requirements or conditions

adjective describing something that is used to determine or classify

• The qualifying exam is a requirement for all graduate students.
• You have to pass the qualifying test to move on to the next level.
• If you want to join the team, you gotta ace the qualifying round.
• Meeting the deadline is the qualifying factor for success in this project.

noun a list or plan showing the names of individuals or items in a group or organization

• The manager updated the roster with the new employee's information.
• Hey, did you see your name on the roster for the upcoming project?
• I made sure to put you on my party roster for this weekend.
• She carefully curated her roster of friends to only include those she truly trusted.

verb to consider appropriate or suitable

adverb in a manner that is appropriate or suitable

• The board of directors will decide how to allocate the funds as they see fit.
• You can use the conference room for your meeting if you see fit.
• Just do whatever you see fit, man.
• She painted the canvas with bold strokes, letting her creativity guide her as she saw fit.

noun a person who carries or helps to carry a stretcher, especially in a medical or emergency context

• The stretcher bearer carefully transported the injured soldier to the medical tent.
• Hey, did you see that stretcher bearer helping out on the field?
• The stretcher bearer was a real hero, man.
• She acted as a stretcher bearer, carrying the weight of her friend's emotional burden.

noun a mark or line indicating a starting point in a race or competition

verb to conform to a particular standard or rule

• It is important for all employees to toe the mark and follow company policies.
• If you want to keep your job, you better toe the mark and do what the boss says.
• The coach told the players to toe the mark and give it their all in the game.
• In order to succeed in life, sometimes you have to toe the mark and push yourself beyond your limits.

noun a person who is the most successful or dominant in a particular field or organization

• In the corporate world, the top dog is the CEO who makes all the major decisions.
• At the office, everyone knows that Sarah is the top dog around here.
• Hey, did you hear? Jake is the new top dog at the skate park.
• In the world of fashion, Chanel is considered the top dog among luxury brands.

noun a slippery substance used to reduce friction or facilitate smooth movement

verb to apply grease or lubricant to make something move more easily

• In order to ensure a smooth transition, it is important to grease the skids by providing adequate training for all employees.
• If you want to get things done quickly, you better grease the skids and make sure everyone is on board.
• Let's grease the skids and get this party started!
• By offering incentives to the key stakeholders, we can effectively grease the skids and move the project forward.

adjective Describing someone who is in good physical condition and ready to participate in a match or competition.

• The athlete trained rigorously to ensure he was match-fit for the upcoming competition.
• I've been hitting the gym so I can be match-fit for our soccer game this weekend.
• I need to get my act together and get match-fit before the season starts.
• Her mind was sharp and her skills were honed, making her match-fit for any challenge that came her way.

noun a procedure to terminate a pregnancy

verb to bring a pregnancy to a premature end

• The pilot aborts the takeoff due to a technical issue with the aircraft.
• She aborts the mission because it's too risky.
• He aborts the plan at the last minute.
• She aborts the conversation when it gets too heated.

adjective formed or created for a particular purpose or situation

adverb formed or created for a particular purpose or situation, often used to describe something done temporarily or as a quick solution

• The committee was formed to address the issue on an ad hoc basis.
• Let's just have an ad hoc meeting to discuss this problem.
• We'll just wing it with an ad hoc solution.
• His decision-making process is very ad hoc, he never plans ahead.