# What is a 'bravery gong'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956 "2023-06-03T14:36:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/1 "2023-06-03T14:36:16Z")
I’ve just read the term today. In context, it sounds like it’s a kudos for bravery? Or is it a physical trophy? Or is it a sound? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/2 "2023-06-03T14:53:15Z")
Never heard of it, but apparently from Australian slang for a medal. Metaphorical. > **[What is the slang term used for 'chest medals' in the military?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-slang-term-used-for-chest-medals-in-the-military)** > > Answer (1 of 5): What is the slang term used for 'chest medals' in the military? > > www.peevish.co.uk/slang/articles/full-monty.htm > The expression 'full Monty' is from the collection of medals that adorned Field Marshall Montgomery's chest. In WWII... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/3 "2023-06-03T14:56:01Z")
Not sure, but it looks like it refers to a bronze medal awarded for acts of bravery in Australia. It seems to be [awarded to civilians](https://www.9news.com.au/national/bravery-gong-for-boy-who-saved-brother/26b454ae-d153-46d1-bf3e-10dc4c7502a5) and [even dogs](https://www.theage.com.au/national/bravery-gong-for-rocky-the-wonder-dog-20061219-ge3tp3.html) for acts of outstanding courage. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/4 "2023-06-03T14:58:17Z")
I know that the ribbons are called a ‘fruit salad’. I’d always assumed that the miniature medals worn with a dress uniform were called the same thing; but I can see how they’d be called ‘gongs’. This morning is the first time I heard the phrase, in an article on CNN. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/5 "2023-06-03T14:58:48Z")
Also slang for a medal in the UK. Eg, Victoria Cross / George Cross ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/6 "2023-06-03T15:05:05Z")
I’ve seen it in Canada as well. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/7 "2023-06-03T15:15:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I know that the ribbons are called a ‘fruit salad’. Also some of the gold military decorations are called [‘scrambled eggs’.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrambled_egg_(uniform)#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%20armed,covers%20in%20the%20Marine%20Corps)) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/8 "2023-06-03T15:40:56Z")
I did once read that a conspicuously brave, but also rather camp, officer in WW2 referred to “my new brooch”. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/9 "2023-06-03T19:46:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve seen it in Canada as well Correct. We do use that term as well. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/10 "2023-06-03T20:23:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I know that the ribbons are called a ‘fruit salad’. I’d always assumed that the miniature medals worn with a dress uniform were called the same thing; but I can see how they’d be called ‘gongs’. This morning is the first time I heard the phrase, in an article on CNN. As I understand UK / commonwealth slang, the “gong” is the whole award. The written citation, the award ceremony, the right to use letters after your last name, etc. And oh by the way, the medal you can hang on your dress uniform. “Gong” also applies to certain titles as gifts of the sovereign not directly related to military achievement. The origin of the slang term is almost certainly the medal itself, the blob of metal hanging from a colorfully striped ribbon. But the “gong” is more than just that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/11 "2023-06-03T21:25:52Z")
I guess a British remake of _The Gong Show_ would be a lot different. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/12 "2023-06-03T21:35:31Z")
A British remake of [_Groovie Goolies_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmelTlEzI34) would probably be different too. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/13 "2023-06-03T22:02:46Z")
I’d read it as ‘medals for courage in action’ as distinct from ‘medals for being on the ration strength’. The British don’t do ‘ribbon on its own’, so the huge array of fruit salad that Bradley Manning, etc. turned up in court with, doesn’t happen there. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/14 "2023-06-03T22:35:05Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > Correct. We do use that term as well. And I’ve used it for civil medals as well. Mentioned to another Doper a while ago that I got a gong. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/15 "2023-06-04T07:06:27Z")
And not all awards come with a gong-like medal to wear, at least in the UK - crosses, sashes, badges or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/16 "2023-06-04T07:21:36Z")
Any of the awards from the civil or military list. I think most Commonwealth countries would recognise the term. One could get a gong for “services rendered to…” where the “to…” can be almost anything; arts, charities, sciences, sports, education… as well as the standard lists for the civil service (the Sir Humphreys of the world). There is an element of the classic British understatement attached to the word. Military valour is a bit separate, but of the same general ilk. Those friends of mine with various gongs will occasionally wear a small lapel pin that those in the know will recognise. Basically a very tiny reproduction of the full sized medal. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/17 "2023-06-04T08:33:28Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > One could get a gong for “services rendered to…” where the “to…” can be almost anything; That’s the drum. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/18 "2023-06-04T10:50:47Z")
Typically British and Australian (possibly Canadian too) to deprecate the whole idea of a decoration for any reason, especially bravery. Someone once asked Charles, the (then) Prince of Wales what all his medals were for. After a moment’s thought, he replied; “Mostly for being me.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/19 "2023-06-04T12:33:04Z")
In the case of royals that’s pretty much true. Bravo for Charles having the down-to-earth attitude to say so. For lesser mortals that’s not nearly as true of course. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956/20 "2023-06-04T14:47:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > I know that the ribbons are called a ‘fruit salad’. > > Also some of the gold military decorations are called [‘scrambled eggs’.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrambled_egg_(uniform)#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%20armed,covers%20in%20the%20Marine%20Corps)) “Scrambled eggs” is the gold ornamentation on the cap visors of O-5 and up (Lt. Col - General or Cmdr -Admiral). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-bravery-gong/984956.md?page=2)