gung ho
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gung ho
or gung-ho (gŭng′hō′)adj. Slang
Extremely enthusiastic and dedicated.
[Earlier Gung Ho, motto of certain US Marine forces in Asia during World War II, from Mandarin gōnghé (short for gōngyè hézuòshè, Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society) : gōng, work (from Middle Chinese kəwŋ) + hé, to be joined together, combine (from Middle Chinese xɦap).]
Our Living Language Gung ho is one of many words that entered the English language as a result of World War II. It comes from Mandarin Chinese gōnghé, the slogan of the gōngyèhézuòshè, the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society. (The gōng in gōnghé means "work," while hé means "combine, join.") Marine Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson (1896-1947) heard the expression and thought it was well-suited to the spirit he was trying to foster among his Marines, the famous "Carlson's Raiders." Carlson began to use it as a moniker for meetings in which problems were discussed and worked out, and his Marines began calling themselves the "Gung Ho Battalion." Gung ho soon began to be used to describe any person who shows eagerness, as it still is today. Other words and expressions that entered English during World War II include flak, gizmo, task force, black market, and hit the sack.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gung ho
(ɡʌŋ həʊ)adj
1. extremely enthusiastic and enterprising, sometimes to excess
2. (Military) extremely keen to participate in military combat
[C20: pidgin English, from Mandarin Chinese kung work + ho together]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
gung ho
A phrase adapted from a Chinese term meaning work together, used to describe a dedicated and enthusiastic person or attitude.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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| Adj. | 1. | gung ho - very enthusiastic and dedicated enthusiastic - having or showing great excitement and interest; "enthusiastic crowds filled the streets"; "an enthusiastic response"; "was enthusiastic about taking ballet lessons" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
gung ho
adjectiveThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
gung ho
adj (inf) → übereifrig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007