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Get your ears put back: A colloquial phrase at the front for "Get your hair cut!" As men were compelled by regulation to keep their hair closely trimmed and cut quite short for reasons of health and cleanliness, the regulation was strictly enforced and orders for men to "get their ears put back" were heard almost every day at parades.[1] A modern-day equivalent would be "Tom has had his ears lowered."
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.87.
The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.
This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.