There is no clear agreement on exactly how the phrase came about. Thought to date back to 1950s jet pilots, the phrase quickly spread to civilian circles. It’s been employed in reference to police officers as well as political canvassers. It can now be used to refer to any persons sent out to walk the ground in an area. After the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the term saw wide use and has ceased to refer exclusively to military operations. Volney Warner, “boots on the ground” is used to mean troops in a combat area or potential combat area. Meaning: Ground troops engaged in an operationĬredited to Army Gen. Francis Grose published the book, “ Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue” in 1811 and used “chew the bullet” to explain how proud soldiers stayed silent while being whipped. Meaning: To endure pain or discomfort without crying outįighters on both sides of the American Civil War used the term “bite the bullet,” but it appears they may have stolen it from the British. Obviously, this would put the ball of the control stick all the way out from the pilot and against the firewall.

When a pilot really needed to zoom away, they’d also push the control stick all the way forward, sending it into a dive.

Pushing the accelerator all the way out (“balls out”), would put the ball of the lever against the firewall in the cockpit (“balls to the wall”). Their control levers had balls on the end. Meaning: To go as fast as one possibly can.įrom military aviation where pilots would need to get their aircraft flying as fast as possible. “Balls to the wall” (also, “Going balls out”)

Military lingo actual