[Ads-l] DEFCON figurative

[MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US)]

"WarGames" is more a literal usage, though, and the OED has cites for that back to the 1950s.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Peter Reitan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:07 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: DEFCON figurative
> 
> ----
> 
> The Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy cold-war film, Wargames, released May 1983, about a computer blindly leading the US to the brink
> of nuclear war, features the plot element of raising the level of defense readiness from DEFCON 4 to 3, 2 and eventually DEFCON 1.
> 
> 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHBqJj0znYo
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> Poster:       "MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US)"
>               <william.d.mullins18.civ at MAIL.MIL>
> Subject:      DEFCON figurative
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> OED  has 1987
> " 2. fig. With following number: a notional scale (from one to five; see note at sense 1) indicating the level of intensity, anticipation,
> readiness, vigilance, etc., in a particular context or situation. Esp. in Defcon 1: the highest possible level of intensity, anticipation, etc."
> 
> 
> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 29 Aug 1984 p 14 col 2 "The Panthers spent yesterday converting to DEFCON 2.  Defense condition 2 calls for a
> shower of compliments aimed and the enemy to neutralize his adrenaline."
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