"For God and Country" - a set phrase?

sweter33 · 07-18-2007, 04:55 PM

As in the topic. Is it a set-phrase in English? Some kind of collocation? Does it originate from literature?
I've been wondering because in Polish there is a similar set-phrase "God, Honour and Country" which appears on all the major military banners and is supposed to stand for the gist of patriotism.

tcm · 07-18-2007, 05:39 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...untrycover.jpg

schmokes · 07-18-2007, 05:43 PM

It's a phrase in America that basically means: "We don't want any pollocks listening to this song!"

Dogfighter28 · 07-18-2007, 05:44 PM

http://anglicanbooks.com/images/waite1a.jpg

slunken · 06:48 PM

yes, it's an expression with english origins...a long time ago when someone would ask (such as in a court of law): How do you wish to be judged?

You would reply with by god and/or by country...meaning the difference of judgement between aboslute (religious) law and relative (local goverment) law...

I t'ink Bolly is trying to illustrate that today it's pretty much the same thing...

something like that...hope this helps

tcm · 07-18-2007, 06:30 PM

it's and not or, slunken. gosh.

slunken · 07-18-2007, 06:37 PM

you're right...will edit

tcm · 07-18-2007, 06:45 PM

no... i mean, the thing you're referencing would be a choice, so that would be or... i don't really know if the phrase "for god and country" comes directly from that, though.

i don't know, don't mind me.

slunken · 07-18-2007, 06:53 PM

i know what you were saying...you were still right, though...we both were...the phrase is ubiquitous but i think it can be immediately traced to old legal practices...prolly came from somewhere else before that, tho...

sweetturpentine · 07-18-2007, 07:47 PM

bit off topic: i felt FGAC was about finding what one truely belives in and at what stage of their life they find it.

slunken · 07-18-2007, 07:52 PM

it's a bout making a firm decision...taking a stand for something one believes in

sweetturpentine · 07-18-2007, 08:03 PM

TAFH · 07-18-2007, 08:21 PM

wow, you really have nothing better to do ?

slunken · 07-18-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAFH

wow, you really have nothing better to do ?

you mean quickly answer a fairly interesting question?

it's called multi-tasking

brendo_91 · 07-18-2007, 09:46 PM

for god and country
forgotten country

tcm · 07-19-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendo_91

for god and country
forgotten country

n
o

brendo_91 · 07-19-2007, 12:22 AM

tcm
female

slunken · 07-19-2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcm

n
o

billy's not dumb...

07-18-2007, 04:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
sweter33 jem cykorię Location: a point or extent in space Posts: 1,160	"For God and Country" - a set phrase? As in the topic. Is it a set-phrase in English? Some kind of collocation? Does it originate from literature? I've been wondering because in Polish there is a similar set-phrase "God, Honour and Country" which appears on all the major military banners and is supposed to stand for the gist of patriotism.

07-18-2007, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
slunken Bad Wolf Location: Get off the phone. Posts: 5,420	yes, it's an expression with english origins...a long time ago when someone would ask (such as in a court of law): How do you wish to be judged? You would reply with by god and/or by country...meaning the difference of judgement between aboslute (religious) law and relative (local goverment) law... I t'ink Bolly is trying to illustrate that today it's pretty much the same thing... something like that...hope this helps Last edited by slunken : 07-18-2007 at 06:48 PM.

07-18-2007, 08:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
sweetturpentine Pledge Posts: 78	del

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07-18-2007, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,913	http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...untrycover.jpg

07-18-2007, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
schmokes Demi-God Location: Eye Lasers Posts: 280	It's a phrase in America that basically means: "We don't want any pollocks listening to this song!"

07-18-2007, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dogfighter28 P4k Reader Baron Burns Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 5,794	http://anglicanbooks.com/images/waite1a.jpg

07-18-2007, 06:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,913	it's and not or, slunken. gosh.

07-18-2007, 06:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
slunken Bad Wolf Location: Get off the phone. Posts: 5,420	you're right...will edit

07-18-2007, 06:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,913	no... i mean, the thing you're referencing would be a choice, so that would be or... i don't really know if the phrase "for god and country" comes directly from that, though. i don't know, don't mind me.

07-18-2007, 06:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
slunken Bad Wolf Location: Get off the phone. Posts: 5,420	i know what you were saying...you were still right, though...we both were...the phrase is ubiquitous but i think it can be immediately traced to old legal practices...prolly came from somewhere else before that, tho...

07-18-2007, 07:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
sweetturpentine Pledge Posts: 78	bit off topic: i felt FGAC was about finding what one truely belives in and at what stage of their life they find it.

07-18-2007, 07:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
slunken Bad Wolf Location: Get off the phone. Posts: 5,420	it's a bout making a firm decision...taking a stand for something one believes in

07-18-2007, 08:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
TAFH Demi-God Posts: 290	wow, you really have nothing better to do ?

07-19-2007, 12:22 AM	#17 (permalink)
brendo_91 Minion of Satan Location: ██████████ Posts: 5,740	tcm female

07-18-2007, 09:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
brendo_91 Minion of Satan Location: ██████████ Posts: 5,740	for god and country forgotten country