# Origin/meaning of "game of soldiers"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693 "2008-02-15T01:54:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/1 "2008-02-15T01:54:50Z")
I’ve run across the phrase “Bugger this for a game of soldiers!” a couple of times in Terry Pratchett novels and elsewhere but I have no idea where it comes from or what it means (beyond being a general expression of disgust or exasperation roughly equivalent to “Fuck it!”). ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/2 "2008-02-15T02:06:39Z")
I suppose it is is idling. In Brit-speak of the 1800s, “soldiering” means “wasting time.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/3 "2008-02-15T02:07:46Z")
In general, I think it refers to a situation that has stopped being fun or amusing. The sources I’ve read equate it to “playing soldiers = fun, being a soldier /= fun.” ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/4 "2008-02-15T08:10:18Z")
Brit here. I’ve used the expression all my life. It means, Sod this, I’m not doing this any more, it’s too difficult/unpleasant/etc ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/5 "2008-02-15T13:49:39Z")
I’ve always thought of it as “this is the equivalent of playing a kid’s game when I could be doing something adult” i.e. “this is a waste of my time” ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/6 "2008-02-15T14:29:47Z")
I first grew familiar with the phrase while serving in the British Army in the 60s and I think it’s a safe bet that’s where it originated. Example. We’re out doing a forced march over rough terrain at the crack of dawn in the pissing rain. “Sod this for a game of soldiers!”, someone complains. In other words, it’s a joke, I don’t want to play soldiers any more, I’m going home now. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-game-of-soldiers/437693/7 "2008-02-15T15:16:07Z")
[Here](http://www.businessballs.com/clichesorigins.htm#game_of_soldiers_origins) is another punt at ascertaining the origin. The explanation lacks authority in my book and the main reason I wave in its general direction is the reference to a hitherto unknown scion of the hagiological universe _viz._ St Fagos (Sod This For A Game Of Soldiers). Anyone more saintly than myself ever come across this acronym?