USO Military Sayings
“Got Your Six”
Have you ever pointed something out to a friend and said, “Look over there at your nine o’clock.” Essentially, this way of giving directions uses the face of a clock to explain relative positioning, and so does the popular expression “got your six.”
Rooted in the military’s use of the organization of a clock-face to inform position and location, if the person you are talking to is the center of the clock, their 6 o’clock is behind them; so if you “have their six,” essentially, you have their back. The phrase was originally used by military pilots during World War I but is commonly used amongst all military personnel now.
“No Man’s Land”
The phrase “no man’s land” refers to the empty region between opposing army trenches on the battlefield. If a soldier was caught in the middle, it meant he was vulnerable and was caught in “no man’s land.”
Although popularized during World War I, the phrase “no man’s land” dates back to 14th century England. It was originally used on maps to indicate burial grounds.
Today, the term is used colloquially for people who are wandering or are caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Balls to the Wall”
While this phrase might make you chuckle, the popular saying actually refers to military aircraft. In older aircraft, a pilot’s control levers had spheres – or, balls – at the end of them. When pilots flew at top speed, they would push on the levers as far as they could go. The “balls” would then be oriented toward the “wall” of the aircraft, hence the phrase “balls to the wall.”
In popular culture, the phrase is typically used when someone or a group is giving their maximum effort and not holding back.
