# Happy VD! (and Other Unfortunate Abbreviations)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 14, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216 "2007-02-14T16:45:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216/1 "2007-02-14T16:45:14Z")

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So here’s the deal. Yesterday evening it occurred to me that Valentine’s Day could properly be abbreviated VD; I’ve since been wishing the little moosette “Happy VD!” (Fortunately, she is tolerant of my sense of humor. I think.)

It occurs to me that this would be an interesting thread topic: abbreviations that contradict what they abbreviate, or otherwise seem weird, or are just plain funny.

One old example comes to mind: it is said the commander of American naval forces in the Pacific used to be known at the Commander-in-Chief, U.S.; which, in typical military style, was abbreviated CINCUS (pronounced “sink us”; it was changed to CINCPAC shortly after Pearl Harbor.)

So, what oddball abbreviations do y’all know of?

Oh, and Happy VD, everyone!

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**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216/2 "2007-02-14T21:31:48Z")

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On a lot of those wedding planning communities, they refer to save the dates as STDs. Yeah. I get confused every time, and for a moment think about cards that say “yay, we’re giving you syphilis!” instead of “yay, we’re getting married! Save the date!”

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**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216/3 "2007-02-14T22:17:25Z")

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It’s probably apocryphal, but I was once told that back in the 1950’s the BBC briefly had a technical post called “Assistant Regional Sound Engineer”. The job title was changed shortly after it was realised what the abbreviation would be.

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-vd-and-other-unfortunate-abbreviations/392216/4 "2007-02-14T23:06:03Z")

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In the 90s, there were two major right-wing political parties in Canada: The Progressive Conservatives, a centre-right party, and the Reform Party, a newer, grassroots party that was further to the right. For a number of political reasons, a merger of the two parties was attempted. They called it the (and I swear I’m not making this up) Canadian Conservative-Reform Alliance party. The Liberals, who have never missed an opportunity to get a good soundbite in, loudly denounced the new party as Canadian CRAP. :smack:

The name was quickly changed to the Canadian Reform-Conservative Alliance(which, being far too many syllables, was usually shortened to the Canadian Alliance).