high speed, low drag
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From aviation, where wings and other exterior aircraft parts are designed to minimize drag and thus maximize the craft's potential speed.
Adjective
[edit]high speed, low drag (not comparable)
Adverb
[edit]high speed, low drag (not comparable)
- (informal) Highly efficiently or competently.
Usage notes
[edit]Often used as a standalone expression, suggesting a general philosophy of life: "High speed, low drag, man!"
Originated in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, among special forces troops who carried only that equipment absolutely essential to their mission. However, the phrase is used today primarily outside the military, by those who are seen as affecting a level of expertise that does not come from actual combat experience.
Modern military slang: derogatory phrase used to describe individuals or teams that are self-serving, often prioritizing expediency in their actions and ignoring the broader implications such actions may create for others.