soldier

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(as) straight as a soldier

Very straight and upright. Said especially of posture. The child sat straight as a soldier during the class. Remember to stand straight as a soldier during the ceremony. They don't want to see any cadets slouching. Adam stood straight as a soldier while getting measured at the doctor's office and was disappointed to find that he had only grown an inch.

be (as) straight as a soldier

To be very straight and upright. Said especially of posture. The child was straight as a soldier during the class. Remember to be straight as a soldier throughout the ceremony. They don't want to see any cadets slouching. Even though I was straight as a soldier while getting measured at the doctor's office, they said I'd only grown an inch!

blow this/that for a game of soldiers

slang A phrase used to dismiss something because it seems too taxing. Well, blow that for a game of soldiers. I'll just return the book tomorrow instead of going out in a snowstorm today. A: "You ordered takeout again?" B: "Once it's time to cook something for dinner, I'm just like, 'Blow that for a game of soldiers!'" Blow this for a game of soldiers—I'd much rather be playing video games than cleaning the bathroom.

See also: blow, for, game, of, soldier, that, this

come the old soldier

To attempt to mislead someone or avoid doing something by using one's age as an excuse. Oh, Grandpa, I know you're strong enough to help move these boxes—don't come the old soldier with me! A: "You can't come the old soldier while you're still in your 30s. Now help me move this table!" B: "Ugh. I'll be 40 in two months, doesn't that count for anything?" Uncle Hank works out religiously, so don't let him come the old soldier with you.

dead soldier

slang

1. An empty bottle from an alcoholic beverage. The yard was littered with dead soldiers the morning after that wild party. He looked up just in time to see a dead soldier being swung at his face. "Hey, she said, slurring her words, "what should I do with this dead soldier?"

2. A cigarette butt. I was annoyed to find some dead soldiers on the ground, even though there was an ashtray nearby. He exhaled, dropped his dead soldier to the asphalt, and used the toe of his boot to snuff it out. Dang, I forgot an ashtray. What should I do with these dead soldiers?

fuck this/that for a game of soldiers

dated rude slang An exclamation of utter disdain for and rejection of something. Originally used in the military. Primarily heard in UK. A: "They want us to clean up the entire stadium after the performance." B: "Yeah, fuck that for a game of soldiers. No way." Damn it, that's the fourth time I've lost. Right, fuck this for a game of soldiers, I'm leaving. I'm not doing all the work on what is supposed to be a group project—fuck that for a game of soldiers!

See also: for, fuck, game, of, soldier, that, this

old soldier

obsolete A person who is experienced in the ways of the world, especially one who is shrewd or cunning as a result. My uncle was a crafty old soldier, always looking for someway to get rich quick. You're never going to convince an old soldier like her to give you extra time off—she's been around the block and has seen the likes of you before, I can tell you that much!

soldier of fortune

1. A soldier who serves the person or organization paying them, rather than their country; a mercenary. Although the nation only had a small population, it boosted the size of its army by hiring soldiers of fortune.

2. A person who seeks adventure or military engagement for money, pleasure, or fame. The novel depicts a soldier of fortune who risks his life for notoriety.

soldier on

To continue doing something with determination or resolve, despite difficulties or an unlikely chance of succeeding. Though our funding was cut, we decided to soldier on with our work and try to finish the project on our own. Even though they were down by an insurmountable number of goals, you have to admire how they just kept soldiering on.

soldier rag

A tight-fitting cloth or scarf covering one's head and tied behind it. More commonly known as a "do-rag." My man is always wearing that soldier rag. You think he's got any hair under there?

dead soldier

Also, dead man. An empty liquor, wine, or beer bottle, as in Their trash barrel's full of dead soldiers; they must drink a lot, or That dead man sticking out of your pocket alerted the officer to the fact that you'd been drinking. Dead man has been slang for "empty bottle" since the late 1600s but has been largely replaced by dead soldier, dating from the late 1800s.

come (or play) the old soldier

use your greater age or experience of life to deceive someone or to shirk a duty. informal

In US nautical slang a soldier or an old soldier was an incompetent seaman.

soldier of fortune

an adventurous person ready to take service under any person or state in return for money; a mercenary.

blow/sodtaboo ˈthis/ˈthat for a game of soldiers

(British English, slang) used by somebody who does not want to do something because it is annoying or involves too much effort: After waiting for twenty minutes more, he thought ‘sod this for a game of soldiers’, and left.

See also: blow, for, game, of, sod, soldier, that, this

dead soldier

and dead man and dead marine and dead one

1. n. an empty liquor or beer bottle. Toss your dead soldiers in the garbage, please. There’s a dead one under the bed and another in the fireplace!

2. n. a cigarette butt. (Less common than sense 1) The bum found a dead soldier on the ground and picked it up.

old soldier

1. n. a cigarette or cigar butt; a hunk of tobacco. The tramp bent over to pick up an old soldier off the pavement.

2. n. an empty liquor bottle; an empty beer bottle or can. Larry hid all his old soldiers under the bed.

soldier

1. n. a liquor bottle; an empty liquor bottle. (see also dead soldier.) Toss your soldier into the garbage, please.

2. n. a whole tobacco cigarette. The old man almost fell over trying to pick up the soldier from the sidewalk.

soldier rag

n. a cap to cover a hairdo. The mugger was wearing a soldier rag and threatened me with a gun.