What does the phrase “weekend warrior” mean in England? The reasone I ask is because I heard an English person once talking about it like it was a bad thing, but in America it means someone in the National Guard. I’m just confused.
I think it refers to the territorial army, not necesarily a bad thing (it is a bit like USA’s National Guard)
Welcome to the boards.
I’m British and have never heard the term used back home. I have heard it used in America to refer to someone who plays sport (typically on the weekend), but with no concern for preparing their body, fitness wise, during the rest of the week. So weekend warriors are those that go out and give it their all and tend to get injured.
I’ve heard it said by Americans referring to the National Guard. I haven’t heard it used over here at all. For some reason it reminds me of an old indie song, Weekender, about people who coast through life doing jobs they hate, living for the weekend where they can spend all their money on beer, women, drugs and dancing. It wasn’t a particularly complimentary song.
British and never heard of it. What context was it used in?
It’s often used in Australia about members of the Army Reserve who vastly overinflate the importance of their military “career” when it’s actually just a paid hobby that they get to go home from on Sunday nights.
Yes, it’s derogatory.
I’ve never heard it, but have often heard TA guys described as ‘playing soldiers’.
In Australia and NZ it means a member of the Territorial Army/Army Rserve and is considered derogatory - kids playing soldier and all that
Well, as none of the Brits have heard of the term, but our Antipodean cousins use it in the derogatory sense mentioned in the OP, is it possible the OP mistook a down-under accent for an English one? Americans ask me if I’m Aussie/NZ all the time.
I have heard it before, both in reference to TA but also referring to the sort of guy who drives a 4-wheel drive and wears a sub-arctic standard winter jacket, 400 dollar hiking boots etc, etc, but never actually leaves town. An all mouth and no trousers kinda guy.
Then what about “Grass Widow”? What does this mean?
Never heard of it, but Google gives this.
Yeah it is used in UK!
Weekend Warrior Army reservist, as above
Grass Widow, girl left at home, guy sports fanatic, football, cricket
Another Brit checking in…
“Weekend Warrior” means all of the things people have said here, most commonly used for someone in the TA. Also used for people who work sedate jobs during the week, then run out and have mad weekends.
The only derogatory sence I’ve heard it used in is for people who “campaign” only when it suits them or they don’t put any effort into it, kinda like the banner waving version of “Sunday Driver”, or as in Iteki’s example.
A “Grass Widow” is a girlie whos husband plays a lot of golf.
Never heard it in referance to any other sport though, cheers Wysiwig
Another Brit here - The “weekend warrior” phrase is as described above but also relates to someone who is doing something in a half hearted way.
There is also the phrase “keyboard warrior” for people who are aggressive in cyberspace but allow geese to go unbooed in real life.
‘Weekend warrior’ does have that part-time, playing at it connotation; trying to be something they’re not good enough, or committed, to do on a full time basis.
There’s also another term I can’t recall for those part-time weekend police you see walking around town centre’s at closing time looking earnest and out of their depth in equal measure.