Scrambling an airforce - a strange phrase to me
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382107)
Rockingham, Australia
November 17, 2024 8:22am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion.
With Russia’s continuing bombardment of Ukraine, its neighbour, Poland, has ‘scrambled its air force and activated all available resources at its disposal’.
Scrambling in this sense seemed a strange choice of word so I looked up ‘scrambling’ in that context and it’s about mobilising military aircraft quickly. But ‘scrambling’ to me sounds like a rather disorganised, spontaneous response to a threat. Which I guess in a way it is.
10 people like this
9 responses
@Fleura (35022)
• United Kingdom
17 Nov 24
@porwest And birds can fly, but flies can't bird.
As a child I was always confused when people talked of a building being razed to the ground, because I was hearing the word not seeing it so I heard it as 'raised' and wondered whether they somehow dug a hole and then filled it in afterwards 
2 people like this
@porwest (112876)
• United States
17 Nov 24
Like razing a building to bring it down, even though it is spelled differently. Gallagher, and American comedian, always made fun of the English language brilliantly, asking questions like why do we call it a building and not a built, or why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. lol
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@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Nov 24
I knew what it meant. Just sad they feel the need to do that
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@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Nov 24
@JudyEv I am afraid it might soon. That seems to be what Putin wants
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@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 Nov 24
Better than scrambling eggs...
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@snowy22315 (208913)
• United States
17 Nov 24
It's a shame it has to happen at all.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
17 Nov 24
Scrambling is very much user for Fighter Aircrafts for a rapid defensive and counter attack.
I read it in a few books and short articles.
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@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
18 Nov 24
@JudyEv
It is not really panic as Airforce personnel are trained for the scenarios.
Still it is never easy !
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@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
18 Nov 24
It's a pity that there will always be a conflict somewhere. Have a good week.
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