What does “number f**king ten” mean?
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
add a comment |
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
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
add a comment |
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
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
slang cinema
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
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.
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
add a comment |
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:
This glossary also suggests American:
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
add a comment |
The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.
The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation
add a comment |
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).
New contributor
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f343477%2fwhat-does-number-fking-ten-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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.
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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:
This glossary also suggests American:
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
add a comment |
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:
This glossary also suggests American:
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
add a comment |
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:
This glossary also suggests American:
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:
This glossary also suggests American:
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.
The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation
add a comment |
The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.
The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation
add a comment |
The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.
The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation
The insertion of "f*cking" into the word is an intensifier.
The practice is called "expletive infixation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expletive_infixation
answered Aug 23 '16 at 18:07
AnnAnn
1233
1233
add a comment |
add a comment |
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).
New contributor
add a comment |
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).
New contributor
add a comment |
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).
New contributor
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).
New contributor
New contributor
answered 19 mins ago
DaveDave
1
1
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f343477%2fwhat-does-number-fking-ten-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
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