[Ads-l] Snasu (variant), was Re: Antedating of "Snafu" by Barry Popik

[Ben Zimmer]

Back in 2009, Garson O'Toole found the "snasu" variant in Time magazine,
Aug. 18, 1941.

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http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2009-December/094658.html
Citation: 1941 Aug. 18, National Defense: Problem of Morale, Time magazine.
Another outfit used another word as response to almost any question: Snasu
("Situation normal: all screwed up"). For the low state of Army morale was
merely brought into the open by the draft-extension bill.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,802126,00.html
---

As for the 1941 Google Books hit for "snafu," I assume that's the
appearance in the Sept. '41 issue of American Notes and Queries, as given
in OED2.

--bgz


On Tue, Nov 24, 2020 at 5:34 AM Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:

> Oct. 26 , 1941, Charlotte Observer [NC; AmHistN; "...Army Lingo..."] 48/4
> Snasu: an expression of disgust when things go wrong. Literally "Situation
> normal, all screwed up."
>
> [GB gives snafu also as 1941, but not confirmed.]
>
> Stephen Goranson
>
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2020 11:07 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: Antedating of "Snafu" by Barry Popik
>
> I cannot overstate the riches that are contained in Barry Popik's
> wonderful website barrypopik.com.  Here is an antedating he has for
> "snafu."  This is a slight antedating in terms of chronology, but I think
> it is worth highlighting because "snafu" is such an important term.
>
> snafu (OED 1941 [Sept.])
>
> 5 June 1941, Daily Times (Chicago, IL), pg. 10, col. 2:
> Army’s all snafu
> Snakes, bugs halt ‘battle march
> By KEITH WHEELER
> (TIMES Staff Correspondent)
> Bell Buckle, Tenn., June 5.—“Everything, said 1st. Lieut. Robert G.
> Anderson, executive officer of company G. 2d battalion, (New York)
> infantry, 27th division “is turning out snafu.”
> (...)
> What,” The Times asked, “does snafu means?”
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
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