sod this for a game of soldiers

English

Alternative forms

• sod that for a game of soldiers

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Interjection

sod this for a game of soldiers

1. (UK, Ireland) Expressing exasperation or impatience with a situation.

   Synonyms: blow this for a game of soldiers, fuck this for a game of soldiers, screw this for a game of soldiers; blow this for a lark, fuck this for a lark, screw this for a lark, sod this for a lark

   Near-synonyms: screw this, fuck this; see also Thesaurus:screw this

   • 1996 December 8, Caroline Sutton, “My First One-in-a-Bath Romp, by Father Ted”, in Sunday Mirror:

     <Quoting Dermot Morgan> "All that grovelling. It's no wonder most people say, 'Sod this for a game of soldiers'. It's a very odd person who retains practising religion."

   • 1941, James Lansdale Hodson, Through the dark night: being some account of a war correspondent's journey, meetings and what was said to him in France, Britain, and Flanders during 1939-40, V. Gollancz Ltd., page 343:

     In the middle of a very hot mixed-up fight one of our men remarked drily on his radio "What price this for a game of soldiers!"

   • 1952, Hashomer Hatzair, Forging the link: a handbook of Hashomer Hatzair, page 108:

     A cold gust of wind fans your face, you shiver slightly, you have been standing still, "get moving," you say to yourself, only another hour to do, the rifle is heavy, brrrr, blow this for a game of soldiers, they have no consideration at all.