When a military man misspeaks or makes an errorneous or incomplete statement they allways say "as you were" before correcting themselves?
2007-10-31 10:04:26 · 5 answers · asked by slickric 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
why say this?
2007-10-31 10:05:03 · update #1
"As you were" originates from an innappropriately given or executed command. For example, if i make a slip of the tongue and say "right... left" before giving a facing movement and the confusion means the unit might end up facing different directions on each other, then I say as you were so that everyone goes back to waiting for a complete command, facing forward. It also applies to any situation where the person wants others to go back to whatever status they were before.
Same goes, it translates over to slips of the tongue in a normal conversation too. However, that's not always the case. An example of this is in my unit we say "Correction please" and then make the correct statement
2007-10-31 10:23:39 · answer #1 · answered by promethius9594 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, "as you were" is a proper responce in the military for many things. For example: if your an Officer and you walk into a room of lower ranking persons they will call the room to attention. If you say "as you were" you allow them to go back to doing what they were doing. In the case of a mistake the majority of the time that a person is speaking they are in frnt of a formation and the those in the formation are waiting for a command. "as you were" lets them know that you have made a mistake and are going to issue the proper command with your next comment. In the case of a casual conversation if a military person saya "as you were" it is just a case of miliary lingo entering a conversation.
2007-10-31 17:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by kendall m 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just like when an CO walks into a room the room is called to attention (attention on deck) the CO says "As you were" meaning go back to what you were doing before.
When you misspeak and say "As you were" you are asking them to go back to before you spoke.
Like one guy said If you are at attention and I Say Left and meant right face. I would say as you were to bring your thinking to back before the mis speak
2007-10-31 17:50:32 · answer #3 · answered by Geoff C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While many officers do use this trite phrase, it is by no means required or tradition. I have 30 years of military service. Five of those years was as an officer. I never used that phrase in polite conversation. I have used it in drill and ceremonies. I also have used it when correcting a subordinate but never to correct myself.
2007-10-31 17:49:58 · answer #4 · answered by Kojak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Really? Guess I missed that rule in my 9 years.
SSG US Army 73-82
2007-10-31 17:10:26 · answer #5 · answered by Stand-up philosopher. It's good to be the King 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋