General
no joy
What does no joy mean?
A brevity code reporting that aircrew do not have visual contact with the target or bandit; the opposite of 'Tally'. More broadly it can mean an attempt was unsuccessful.
""Look right three o'clock — negative, no joy.""
Origin
Multiservice tactical brevity code; the phrase spread into general aviation and casual use.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'no joy' mean?
In aviation it reports that aircrew have no visual contact with a target or bandit — the opposite of 'Tally'.
Can 'no joy' mean something outside the cockpit?
Yes — it has spread into general use to mean an attempt was unsuccessful, e.g. "I tried to reach them, no joy."
What's the opposite of 'no joy'?
'Tally', which reports that you do have the target or enemy in sight.
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