A military acronym - SNAFU
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381762)
Rockingham, Australia
April 9, 2023 1:43pm CST
The photo is of the River Moy where it flows through Ballina in Ireland. It has nothing to do with the text.
Every morning I do the New York Times Wordle. I can usually complete it in four turns but today it took me five. The last time was a guess but it turned out to be correct. The word was SNAFU and I’m sure some, maybe a lot, will be familiar with the term but I wasn’t.
SNAFU is a sarcastic expression and an acronym for ‘Situation Normal; All F*cked Up’ although it seems the original phrase was ‘Status Normal; etc’. It’s believed the term originated in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Going down the rabbit-hole, I found a number of these military acronyms but I’ll save them for later.
14 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
9 Apr 23
That's interesting terrain.
Yes, that's a commonly used term here. Many people write that simply as snafu now.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
10 Apr 23
@JudyEv I come across it fairly frequently in different books I read.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
23 Apr 23
Didn't know the back story of SNAFU. Lovely picture. I've never played Wordle; but I love word games. Hope you are having a lovely weekend....or is it over for you?
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
23 Apr 23
@JudyEv Thanks. I might try that after I catch up here.
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
9 Apr 23
I think snafu is all messed up..not sure.
Oh cool Judy..just what I need to know as well right now military acronyms
The photo is brilliant
The photo is brilliant1 person likes this
Okay thought so
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Apr 23
I have heard of the SNAFU term being used as a way of saying a major error in judgement of a decision like the plot for the Disco movie "Thank God It's Friday." when a disc jockey made a SNAFU by having a singing band named the Commodores perform at a disco but without their musical instruments with them since their driver got lost driving their van on a highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Apr 23
@JudyEv That is true since the disc jockey inside the remote where the dance contest was to take place was going to be fired by his boss if the Commodores did not sing their songs on the radio when scheduled.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381762)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Apr 23
I haven't seen any boats here but I'm sure there must be some.
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
10 Apr 23
When I was in the Army, SNAFU was the first level of things going wrong. After SNAFU came FUBSTR and when things finally got as bad as they could get they were FUBAR.
For those who don't understand military acronyms:
FUBSTR means F-ed Up But STill Recognizable
FUBAR means F-ed up Beyond All Recognition
Historical Examples:
The 20th Maine's defense of Little Round Top was FUBSTR, but saved by Chambelain's Charge.
The 7th Calvary's battle at the Little Big Horn was FUBAR from the Army's perspective. On the other hand, it was a great victory for the good guys.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Apr 23
What a lovely place to take a walk, I know the term,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381762)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Apr 23
It's 1.31pm where you are and 9.31pm where I am. I'm eight hours ahead - and you're never going to catch me! lol
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Apr 23
I remember it well, even before I was in the army.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
10 Apr 23
A lovely photo.
That's a new word to me.
1 person likes this
