General
foxtrot
What does foxtrot mean?
The code word representing the letter 'F' in the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet, widely reused in slang phrases as a stand-in for a common expletive beginning with F.
""Spell it out: Foxtrot Oscar Bravo — FOB.""
Origin
Adopted 1956 as part of the ICAO/NATO spelling alphabet.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Foxtrot" stand for?
It's the NATO phonetic alphabet code word for the letter F, used to spell out letters clearly over radio.
What does "Foxtrot Oscar" mean?
It's phonetic-alphabet slang for the initials F.O., a polite radio way of telling someone to clear off ("foxtrot oscar").
Why is Foxtrot used in slang so often?
Because F is the initial of a common expletive, so "Foxtrot" becomes a way to imply the word without saying it, as in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
