Snipantry

[Dave Wilton]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
> Of James A. Landau
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 6:46 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Snipantry
>
>
> I word I heard yesterday from a Marine recruit:  he said that
> after boot camp
> he was going to "snipantry school".  Someone else who heard him commented
> "I've heard of infantry and I've ehard of sniping but I've never
> heard the two
> combined..."
>
> Also a metaphor new to me:  a Human Resources person commented that the
> standard two-hour orientation for new employees was "drinking
> from a fire hose".

"Drinking from a fire hose" is an expression I've heard for at least 10
years. In my experience it is normally used in reference to new employees or
someone who has taken a new position and is learning about his or her new
responsibilities.

"Snipantry," however, is a new one to me too.

--Dave Wilton
  dave at wilton.net
  http://www.wilton.net