General
bravo zulu minus
What does bravo zulu minus mean?
Naval slang inverting 'Bravo Zulu' to convey a poorly done job — a tongue-in-cheek reprimand rather than praise.
""You beached us on the sandbar — that's a Bravo Zulu minus.""
Origin
Sarcastic derivation from the naval signal 'BZ' (well done).
Frequently asked questions
What does "Bravo Zulu minus" mean?
It is sarcastic naval slang for a poorly done job — a tongue-in-cheek jab that flips the praise of "Bravo Zulu" into a reprimand.
What is "Bravo Zulu"?
"Bravo Zulu," or BZ, is the naval signal for "well done"; adding "minus" mockingly reverses the compliment.
Where does it come from?
It is a sarcastic riff on the traditional naval "BZ" signal meaning well done.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
