Major Kong gives his assessment of the damage to his bomber:
Well boys, we got three engines out, we got more holes in us than a horse trader’s mule, the radio is gone and we’re leaking fuel and if we was flying any lower why we’d need sleigh bells on this thing. But we got one little budge on those Russkies. At this height why they might harpoon us, but they dang sure ain’t gonna spot us on no radar screen!
I understand what he’s saying, but I haven’t been able to find any definition of the word “budge” in this context–although, given the rest of the statement, I think you could stubstiute just any generic word in its place and the statement would be just as clear.
Anyway: Is there some older definition for “budge” that’s not common anymore, or was it just some word that was thrown into the script?
Perhaps you’ve heard the term, “get the budge on [someone/something].” It’s idiomatic. It means, as the context suggest, to gain an [often slight] advantage. In this way, perhaps, it is tied to the common definition for budge, “to alter position.” No, matter though; it’s a common enough phrase that I’ve heard it often (maybe regional? I’m in the south – land of the idiom,)
I’ve lived all over the US & in 40+ years I’ve never heard or read of “budge” used as suggested by whole bean. Not sayin’ he’s wrong, just one more personal experience to the contrary.
Unless the OP is reading the screenplay & is 100% sure of the words, I’d sooner believe Slim Pickens said “edge” & it was misheard him through the airplane noise & his accent.
I must admit I do not have a copy of the screenplay.
However, a cursory Google search of the key words in the quote all return quotes with the word “budge.” If he’s saying something else, I ain’t the only one mis-hearing it by a long shot.
And, no, I have never heard the phrase “get the budge on [something].” Southeastern USA, all my life.
One that slips into houses in the dark, to steal cloaks or other clothes. Also lambs’ fur formerly used for doctors’ robes, whence they were called budge doctors. Standing budge; a thief’s scout or spy.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
A BUDGE
A BUDGE, one that slips into an House in the Dark, and taking what comes next to Hand, marches off with it. If he meets with any body, he asks, if such a Gentleman or Woman be within; and is told, they know no such Person, he begs Pardon, and says, he was mistaken in the House, immediately marches off, and will not stay for a Reply. To Budge, also signifies to stir or move.