From 'About turn' to 'We band of brothers' military phrases pepper the English language.
About turn
Absent without leave
Action man
All present and correct
Attack is the best form of defence
Beat a hasty retreat
Bite the bullet
Blood, sweat and tears
Drummed out of the army
Extraordinary rendition
Fifth column
Give no quarter
Hoist with your own petard
I have nothing to offer but blood toil tears and sweat
Join the colours
Kilroy was here
Lions led by donkeys
Loose cannon
Loose lips sink ships
Meet your Waterloo
Moaning Minnie
Nail your colours to the mast
Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.
No names: no pack-drill
Not by a long shot
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more
Over the top
Overpaid, oversexed, and over here
Pyrric victory
Rank and file
Show a leg
Steal a march
Tell it to the marines
The best defense is a good offence
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers