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  1. etymology - Researching the real origin of SNAFU - English Language ...

    I know the wiki origin puts SNAFU as appearing during WWII as the first in a long line of military slang, BUT, years ago I recollect reading in an electronics magazine, likely 'Wireless World' from...

  2. When did the word "snafu" enter the colloquial vernacular?

    Roughly when did the word "snafu" enter the colloquial vernacular? It was a military term, but at some point it came into fairly common use among the general population.

  3. Is using the word "snafu" instead of the word "problem" correct?

    Feb 29, 2016 · 6 According to vocabulary.com snafu, the old possibly offensive military term, is nowadays used to refer to any kind of problem: Snafu was originally a World War II-era military …

  4. etymology - What is origin of the phrase "tits up" - English Language ...

    Nov 4, 2024 · 2 Personally, I like the acronym explanation as provided by acronymfinder: Total Inability To Support Usual Performance. It aligns nicely with one of the other classic expressions - SNAFU. It …

  5. Word for abbreviations that have become standard words

    Feb 24, 2014 · The word snafu, for example, was originally an obscene U.S. Army reference (situation normal -- all f'ed up"), and fad is purportedly originally an acronym for "for a day". Some terms, such …

  6. History of 'acronym' versus 'initialism'? - English Language & Usage ...

    Nov 6, 2020 · From " If You Say Snafu or O.K. You're Using an Acronym," in the Breckenridge [Texas] American (July 9, 1947): ALBUQUERQUE, N [ew] M [exico].—Basic English may be the coming …

  7. verbs - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

    What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? asked about pluralising acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms, but is there a standard way to add verb endings e.g. -ing and -ed (what are these c...

  8. "then" vs "and then" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

    I was writing an email in Outlook and its grammar correction suggested I change this: I need to do something, then I'll call you. to this: I need to do something, and then I'll call you. Is the...

  9. What is the term for words that have changed meaning over time?

    Nov 26, 2012 · 11 Snafu has not so much changed its meaning over time as come to be used by a larger linguistic community. Nevertheless, words do change their meaning over time. Where a word …

  10. How did the phrase "are you nuts" come about?

    May 5, 2011 · What is the connection between "nut" and the character? How was the phrase "are you nuts?" used at first?