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Editor’s note: The Long March will be closed for inventory the month of August. We regret any inconvenience this causes our loyal customers. In an effort to keep you reasonably content and focussed, we are offering re-runs of some of the best columns of the year. We value your custom and hope you will stick around for . . . the Long March.

Here, as a sequel to our collection of military rhyming phrases (which we like), are some military phrases that Tom and his colleagues at Task & Purpose believe are past their due date for retirement. Fines double for using them in briefings.

  • Long pole in the tent
  • Oh and by the way
  • And getting blown up/shot could ruin your whole day
  • Bottom line up front
  • Zero dark hundred/ zero dark thirty
  • All of us are smarter than any of us
  • Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
  • OBE
  • Standby to standby
  • That’s not in your seabag
  • Hurry up and wait
  • Too easy
  • Only easy day was yesterday
  • You get what you inspect
  • Needs of the
  • Ship, shipmate, self
  • Full spectrum
  • Slow is smooth, smooth is fast
  • Boots on the ground
  • Lackadaisical attitude
  • Soup sandwich
  • Warmy fuzzy
  • Shut up and color
  • Stay in your lane
  • Show me your war face
  • Just to piggyback on what the CO said . . .
  • High speed, low drag
  • Dog and pony show
  • Shit hot
  • We got a lot of moving parts here
  • Break break
  • Are you tracking?
  • It would behoove you

Got any to add? Please post in the comments. But don’t kill “Let me break it down for you, Barney-style.” I still like that one.

Mandatory Fun photo
Mandatory Fun