Gung-ho
Meaning
Excessively enthusiastic and eager, often to an uncritical or aggressive degree, especially about a new idea or venture.
Origin
The phrase "gung-ho" bursts onto the American scene during World War II, a direct import from China. It was popularized by Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, leader of the U.S. Marine Corps's 2nd Raider Battalion, famously known as "Carlson's Raiders." Carlson adapted the Chinese industrial cooperative slogan "Gung Ho" (工合), meaning "work together" or "work in harmony," during his time observing Chinese guerrilla fighters in the late 1930s. He brought this spirit of intense teamwork and unwavering enthusiasm back to his Marines, using it to instill a fierce esprit de corps and an almost fanatical dedication to their missions. The raiders, embracing the slogan, became known for their gung-ho attitude, and the term quickly spread throughout the military and into popular American culture, symbolizing an eager, all-out commitment.
Examples
- The new recruits were gung-ho about their first mission, ready for anything the drill sergeants threw at them.
- Despite the tight deadline, the project team was gung-ho to finish the new software release ahead of schedule.