Slang Terms

[Twende]

I need a little help on what comes to your mind when you hear the words "Cannon Fodder".

I am finding that this term seems to have been used by people in certain groups about 30 years ago.

Can you please tell me what comes to your mind when you hear it? If you are willing to give a bit of background on where you heard this term or your approximate age that would be helpful.

No one is going to judge you for your truthful first impression.

Thank you.

 

[Andy B]

Cannon Fodder brings to mind those who are expendable. I thing it belongs to the days when wars were fought with large numbers of infantry, the front ranks were clearly open to be shot by cannon or gun and so were cannon fodder to take the hit to allow those behind to advance further before reloading could occur and eventually get to the enemies position.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I've heard the term but never given it much thought - I've always that it was about someone who really didn't matter.

Then I googled it and Wikipedia tells me that I was kinda right.

 

[Dodie]

My first reaction was "infantry" - even before I read the responses here. Those considered expendable by the military. The frontline.

Edited to add that I am 47 and probably first heard this term as a child in association with the Vietnam War.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

To me, it is the expendable military (which to me, is a horrifically sad concept). I first heard this term in a Star Wars book about the Clone Wars, where the soldiers are considered worthless because they are clones. For age reference, I'll be 20 next month.

 

[horseshowmom]

Cannon Fodder brings to mind those who are expendable. I thing it belongs to the days when wars were fought with large numbers of infantry, the front ranks were clearly open to be shot by cannon or gun and so were cannon fodder to take the hit to allow those behind to advance further before reloading could occur and eventually get to the enemies position.

Same here...

As far as age goes, I'm 48.

 

[Twende]

Thank you for your fast responses. It truly is a sad but realistic term to me too.

Also if any of you responding are military can you tell me if this term is used more for any one group, like the poster above mentioned infantry or combat arms or any one branch of the service.

I know the military has an internal lingo or jargon and that this is a term used in that manner also.

Thanks again for the help. Hopefully it will clear up a huge controversy that has been brewing in my life. After all everyone who knows me knows that the DisBoards is the final expert in everything. I say that as an extreme compliment to the members of DisBoards. I don't care what my problem or question is, someone or usually many someones knows the answer! I love this place!

 

[NotUrsula]

It means exactly what Andy B said, but if you think that the expression became common parlance around 30 years ago you are thinking way too recently. The idea is hundreds of years old and has been used since not long after the invention of the cannon; the term itself has been used since at least the time of Napoleon.

These days infantry are not usually facing real cannons in pitched battle lines, but they still die in larger numbers than anyone else.

I'm 46 and I have a degree in military history.

 

[Andy B]

Cannon Fodder brings to mind those who are expendable. I thing it belongs to the days when wars were fought with large numbers of infantry, the front ranks were clearly open to be shot by cannon or gun and so were cannon fodder to take the hit to allow those behind to advance further before reloading could occur and eventually get to the enemies position.

PS I am 47

 

[Golf4food]

It means exactly what Andy B said, but if you think that the expression became common parlance around 30 years ago you are thinking way too recently. The idea is hundreds of years old and has been used since not long after the invention of the cannon; the term itself has been used since at least the time of Napoleon.

These days infantry are not usually facing real cannons in pitched battle lines, but they still die in larger numbers than anyone else.

I'm 46 and I have a degree in military history.

Saved me the trouble of typing it out. It mostly brings to mind 18th and 19th century combat for me.

I'm 29, but a long time "student" of military history.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I'm replying without reading everyone's answer's then I'll go back and read what others wrote.

Cannon fodder to me means someone who isn't needed, or liked. As in, something to stuff the cannons with...and the phrase was often used to imply joking or boisterous behavior from adults to kids in my circle.

It was used around me a lot as a child from dear aunts and uncles, who say us kids were cannon fodder as we were too young to buy them beer or smokes, or drive them around on errands.

I'm 39 and was raised near the ocean and around longshoremen type-of people.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, I see I was wrong all along. I thought it was to stuff the canons, not for the canons to kill off right away.

 

[Mr Man]

I associate "Cannon Fodder" with organized warfare (er 16th century) up to just before WW1...... ie lines of infantry, advancing under heavy cannon fire with small expectancy of survival over time.......not fun.

Rent "Waterloo" the russian/italian version from 1970 to get an idea of the joy of cannon fodderdom. Huge cast of extras.....the acting was, well, er......they had a HUGE cast of extras

During and after WW1 the ways we kill each other expanded dramatically in the West......

I am under 40 (just)

 

[Twende]

Well I have certainly gotten the historical on the term. Figures you all would know that!

DH says he often heard this term when referring to a certain branch in the armed forces.

He says it was not used in a derogatory way but simply an identifier. He says it was used mostly by those inside the combat arms groups to refer to one branch more so than another.

Can anyone tell me what branch of the service was often called Cannon Fodder?

DH says it is common slang and I have a few people (not DisBoarders) telling me that they have never heard the term and think it is horrid. Who is right here?

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I associate the term mostly with WWI which forced infrantry "up and over" out of the trenches to certain death. Hundreds of thousands died for little gain----neither army advanced much during the war.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Low ranking, expendable members of the military. Or in the medieval times, half-trained or untrained peasants who wanted to fight or were drafted to fight for a noble's or theking's army.

 

[Grog]

When I think of cannon fodder, this scene from the movie Barry Lyndon always comes to mind (even though no cannon were involved).

Barry Lyndon

I'm 45 and first heard the term when I was a child. I've always been a military history buff.

 

[Dodie]

OP? I'm bumping this back up because curiosity has gotten the best of me. Exactly what were you trying to get at here? Did you get it from the replies?

 

[Twende]

Hello Dodie,

I got the replies that I expected. This is a very educated group of people and they understood the history behind the term.

The thread was begun because some people I know from another group got all out of sorts when the term was used in it's proper context. It has taken days to try to explain that it is not a derogatory term nor was it meant to be.

I just wanted to confirm what I knew of the term and get some other opinions on it.

As it turns out the person who was referred to by this term was informed of it and was not the least bit offended.

I guess the people who were so upset just have not yet realized the true realities of war.

 

[Robinrs]

On American Idol, "cannon fodder" are the people in the Top Twelve who are BOUND to get voted off! There was LOTS of CF on this year!