My wife works for a military manufacturing subcontractor. Neither of us have any military experience.
She hears the term, “lying flat” regularly. The way it’s used it means, “details sorted out” or “all the questions answered” or, “ready for the next phase”
We’ve been trying to work out the source and original meaning.
The Internet has zero answers that apply, and a million hits about the Chinese use, which is basically, “quiet quitting”. That’s clearly not the appropriate meaning or origin.
We came up with some options, none of which are satisfying.
- ironed, like for clothes or sheets or something
- all enemies dead, lying flat on the battlefield, allowing for advance.
The only web reference I could find doesn’t give a meaning, but does say civilians shouldn’t use the term:
This maybe supports our second guess.
Did you hear or use this term when you were active? What does it really mean, where does it come from?
She hears the term, “lying flat” regularly. The way it’s used it means, “details sorted out” or “all the questions answered” or, “ready for the next phase”
We’ve been trying to work out the source and original meaning.
The Internet has zero answers that apply, and a million hits about the Chinese use, which is basically, “quiet quitting”. That’s clearly not the appropriate meaning or origin.
We came up with some options, none of which are satisfying.
- ironed, like for clothes or sheets or something
- all enemies dead, lying flat on the battlefield, allowing for advance.
The only web reference I could find doesn’t give a meaning, but does say civilians shouldn’t use the term:
4 military phrases civilians should start using
"As much as I'm adapting to corporate life, I wish the civilian world would take at least a few military terms onboard."
taskandpurpose.com
This maybe supports our second guess.
Did you hear or use this term when you were active? What does it really mean, where does it come from?