What does “number f**king ten” mean?












25















I was watching "Casualties of War" today.



One of the characters, a soldier, interrogates a suspected VC (Viet-Cong) old man by asking him "Are you VC? Number fucking ten?"



Is "number fucking 10" some kind of military slang, or maybe is it some mnemonic way to ask something in Vietnamese?










share|improve this question




















  • 2





    I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

    – Mathijs Segers
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:17
















25















I was watching "Casualties of War" today.



One of the characters, a soldier, interrogates a suspected VC (Viet-Cong) old man by asking him "Are you VC? Number fucking ten?"



Is "number fucking 10" some kind of military slang, or maybe is it some mnemonic way to ask something in Vietnamese?










share|improve this question




















  • 2





    I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

    – Mathijs Segers
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:17














25












25








25


3






I was watching "Casualties of War" today.



One of the characters, a soldier, interrogates a suspected VC (Viet-Cong) old man by asking him "Are you VC? Number fucking ten?"



Is "number fucking 10" some kind of military slang, or maybe is it some mnemonic way to ask something in Vietnamese?










share|improve this question
















I was watching "Casualties of War" today.



One of the characters, a soldier, interrogates a suspected VC (Viet-Cong) old man by asking him "Are you VC? Number fucking ten?"



Is "number fucking 10" some kind of military slang, or maybe is it some mnemonic way to ask something in Vietnamese?







slang cinema






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Aug 18 '16 at 13:27









Earthliŋ

230313




230313










asked Aug 18 '16 at 12:03









MaximGiMaximGi

316412




316412








  • 2





    I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

    – Mathijs Segers
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:17














  • 2





    I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

    – Mathijs Segers
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:17








2




2





I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

– Mathijs Segers
Aug 18 '16 at 14:17





I thought it was because Raining blood from slayer's "Reign in Blood " is track number 10. Now you've ruined it for me.

– Mathijs Segers
Aug 18 '16 at 14:17










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















42














A quick online research shows that "number 10" is indeed part of 60s' Vietnam War jargon, meaning "the worst" and being the opposite of "Number 1": "the best"; according to glossaries in Ray's Web Server and Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities of Virginia.






share|improve this answer





















  • 30





    And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

    – Max Williams
    Aug 18 '16 at 12:15






  • 33





    @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

    – GalacticCowboy
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:49











  • It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

    – Erin L
    Aug 19 '16 at 15:39



















3














I think, in the context given in the question, it means American in a pejorative sense (see @armen-Ծիրունյան's answer), with partial rhyming slang (ten/-can).



The interrogator already thinks the guy is VC, and is using language to try to get him to admit that. If the guy balks at the pejorative term, then that's more of an indication that he sides with the Americans than just simply agreeing to the pejorative term.



This analysis of the "poem" suggests it refers to Americans who raped / made Asian women pregnant:



enter image description here



This glossary also suggests American:



enter image description here






share|improve this answer





















  • 4





    In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

    – Russell Borogove
    Aug 18 '16 at 13:57













  • @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

    – Peter K.
    Aug 18 '16 at 13:58








  • 7





    If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

    – Russell Borogove
    Aug 18 '16 at 14:05



















0














The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.



The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation






share|improve this answer































    0














    It is a term used largely in the Vietnam War.
    1 is the best, 10 is the worst. As stated above, the obscenity thrown in just intensifies the meaning behind it. Nothing to do with slayer or a poem in 1975 as it was used as a negative term (slur) aimed at the Americans and Australians in the Vietnam war. It pre-dates the 1975 poem (Unless the poet got their inspiration from the Vietnam war).






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.




















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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      42














      A quick online research shows that "number 10" is indeed part of 60s' Vietnam War jargon, meaning "the worst" and being the opposite of "Number 1": "the best"; according to glossaries in Ray's Web Server and Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities of Virginia.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 30





        And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

        – Max Williams
        Aug 18 '16 at 12:15






      • 33





        @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

        – GalacticCowboy
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:49











      • It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

        – Erin L
        Aug 19 '16 at 15:39
















      42














      A quick online research shows that "number 10" is indeed part of 60s' Vietnam War jargon, meaning "the worst" and being the opposite of "Number 1": "the best"; according to glossaries in Ray's Web Server and Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities of Virginia.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 30





        And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

        – Max Williams
        Aug 18 '16 at 12:15






      • 33





        @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

        – GalacticCowboy
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:49











      • It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

        – Erin L
        Aug 19 '16 at 15:39














      42












      42








      42







      A quick online research shows that "number 10" is indeed part of 60s' Vietnam War jargon, meaning "the worst" and being the opposite of "Number 1": "the best"; according to glossaries in Ray's Web Server and Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities of Virginia.






      share|improve this answer















      A quick online research shows that "number 10" is indeed part of 60s' Vietnam War jargon, meaning "the worst" and being the opposite of "Number 1": "the best"; according to glossaries in Ray's Web Server and Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities of Virginia.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Aug 18 '16 at 21:11









      Christian Læirbag

      34




      34










      answered Aug 18 '16 at 12:12









      Armen ԾիրունյանArmen Ծիրունյան

      12.9k1775131




      12.9k1775131








      • 30





        And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

        – Max Williams
        Aug 18 '16 at 12:15






      • 33





        @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

        – GalacticCowboy
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:49











      • It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

        – Erin L
        Aug 19 '16 at 15:39














      • 30





        And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

        – Max Williams
        Aug 18 '16 at 12:15






      • 33





        @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

        – GalacticCowboy
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:49











      • It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

        – Erin L
        Aug 19 '16 at 15:39








      30




      30





      And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

      – Max Williams
      Aug 18 '16 at 12:15





      And in case it's not obvious, "fucking" doesn't have any extra meaning here and is just a case of swearing to add emphasis.

      – Max Williams
      Aug 18 '16 at 12:15




      33




      33





      @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

      – GalacticCowboy
      Aug 18 '16 at 14:49





      @MaxWilliams Specifically for a site about language, it is an intensifier.

      – GalacticCowboy
      Aug 18 '16 at 14:49













      It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

      – Erin L
      Aug 19 '16 at 15:39





      It's also worth noting that Koreans will still use this terminology today. They've said, "You number 10, G.I." to my dad while he was still in the military (where G.I. is slang for a Soldier, standing for Government Issue)

      – Erin L
      Aug 19 '16 at 15:39













      3














      I think, in the context given in the question, it means American in a pejorative sense (see @armen-Ծիրունյան's answer), with partial rhyming slang (ten/-can).



      The interrogator already thinks the guy is VC, and is using language to try to get him to admit that. If the guy balks at the pejorative term, then that's more of an indication that he sides with the Americans than just simply agreeing to the pejorative term.



      This analysis of the "poem" suggests it refers to Americans who raped / made Asian women pregnant:



      enter image description here



      This glossary also suggests American:



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer





















      • 4





        In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:57













      • @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

        – Peter K.
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:58








      • 7





        If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:05
















      3














      I think, in the context given in the question, it means American in a pejorative sense (see @armen-Ծիրունյան's answer), with partial rhyming slang (ten/-can).



      The interrogator already thinks the guy is VC, and is using language to try to get him to admit that. If the guy balks at the pejorative term, then that's more of an indication that he sides with the Americans than just simply agreeing to the pejorative term.



      This analysis of the "poem" suggests it refers to Americans who raped / made Asian women pregnant:



      enter image description here



      This glossary also suggests American:



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer





















      • 4





        In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:57













      • @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

        – Peter K.
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:58








      • 7





        If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:05














      3












      3








      3







      I think, in the context given in the question, it means American in a pejorative sense (see @armen-Ծիրունյան's answer), with partial rhyming slang (ten/-can).



      The interrogator already thinks the guy is VC, and is using language to try to get him to admit that. If the guy balks at the pejorative term, then that's more of an indication that he sides with the Americans than just simply agreeing to the pejorative term.



      This analysis of the "poem" suggests it refers to Americans who raped / made Asian women pregnant:



      enter image description here



      This glossary also suggests American:



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer















      I think, in the context given in the question, it means American in a pejorative sense (see @armen-Ծիրունյան's answer), with partial rhyming slang (ten/-can).



      The interrogator already thinks the guy is VC, and is using language to try to get him to admit that. If the guy balks at the pejorative term, then that's more of an indication that he sides with the Americans than just simply agreeing to the pejorative term.



      This analysis of the "poem" suggests it refers to Americans who raped / made Asian women pregnant:



      enter image description here



      This glossary also suggests American:



      enter image description here







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Aug 18 '16 at 15:52

























      answered Aug 18 '16 at 12:20









      Peter K.Peter K.

      3,55412031




      3,55412031








      • 4





        In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:57













      • @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

        – Peter K.
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:58








      • 7





        If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:05














      • 4





        In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:57













      • @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

        – Peter K.
        Aug 18 '16 at 13:58








      • 7





        If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

        – Russell Borogove
        Aug 18 '16 at 14:05








      4




      4





      In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

      – Russell Borogove
      Aug 18 '16 at 13:57







      In the OP's question, it's being applied to someone suspected of being VC, so not likely an American. The common American phrase "number one" came to mean "good/best" in Vietnamese English dialect; "number 10" is the necessary contrastive to mean "bad/worst".

      – Russell Borogove
      Aug 18 '16 at 13:57















      @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

      – Peter K.
      Aug 18 '16 at 13:58







      @RussellBorogove On the contrary, I think it's perfectly correct: He's asking whether the person supports the VC or Americans, which makes perfect sense (to me) in the context.

      – Peter K.
      Aug 18 '16 at 13:58






      7




      7





      If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

      – Russell Borogove
      Aug 18 '16 at 14:05





      If you're a supporter of Americans, you don't use a pejorative term for them, which "number 10" clearly is in "Number fucking ten cheap charlie GI cocksucker". Likewise a soldier interrogating a suspected VC, being either American or South Vietnamese, doesn't associate "number 10" with Americans.

      – Russell Borogove
      Aug 18 '16 at 14:05











      0














      The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.



      The practice is called "expletive infixation."
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation






      share|improve this answer




























        0














        The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.



        The practice is called "expletive infixation."
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation






        share|improve this answer


























          0












          0








          0







          The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.



          The practice is called "expletive infixation."
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation






          share|improve this answer













          The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.



          The practice is called "expletive infixation."
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Aug 23 '16 at 18:07









          AnnAnn

          1233




          1233























              0














              It is a term used largely in the Vietnam War.
              1 is the best, 10 is the worst. As stated above, the obscenity thrown in just intensifies the meaning behind it. Nothing to do with slayer or a poem in 1975 as it was used as a negative term (slur) aimed at the Americans and Australians in the Vietnam war. It pre-dates the 1975 poem (Unless the poet got their inspiration from the Vietnam war).






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                0














                It is a term used largely in the Vietnam War.
                1 is the best, 10 is the worst. As stated above, the obscenity thrown in just intensifies the meaning behind it. Nothing to do with slayer or a poem in 1975 as it was used as a negative term (slur) aimed at the Americans and Australians in the Vietnam war. It pre-dates the 1975 poem (Unless the poet got their inspiration from the Vietnam war).






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  It is a term used largely in the Vietnam War.
                  1 is the best, 10 is the worst. As stated above, the obscenity thrown in just intensifies the meaning behind it. Nothing to do with slayer or a poem in 1975 as it was used as a negative term (slur) aimed at the Americans and Australians in the Vietnam war. It pre-dates the 1975 poem (Unless the poet got their inspiration from the Vietnam war).






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.










                  It is a term used largely in the Vietnam War.
                  1 is the best, 10 is the worst. As stated above, the obscenity thrown in just intensifies the meaning behind it. Nothing to do with slayer or a poem in 1975 as it was used as a negative term (slur) aimed at the Americans and Australians in the Vietnam war. It pre-dates the 1975 poem (Unless the poet got their inspiration from the Vietnam war).







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 19 mins ago









                  DaveDave

                  1




                  1




                  New contributor




                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Dave is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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