FUBAR

What Does FUBAR Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

FUBAR means "F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition."

More Observations...

FUBAR has been used in use as an informal military abbreviation since at least World War II. Effectively, it means that something is irreparably broken. FUBAR is applied not just to physical items, but also to situations. For example:

• I put petrol instead of diesel in the generator and now it's FUBAR.
• Ever since Sam found about about Lee, my life has been FUBAR.
• If you go near them again, you'll be FUBAR.

There are a number of slight variations on the definition of FUBAR, but all have the same basic meaning. These include:

• F*cked Up Beyond All Repair.
• F*cked Up Beyond All Redemption.
• F*cked Up By Army Regulations.
• F*cked Up By Assholes in the Rear.

FUBAR first came to prominence in the 1986 movie "Platoon." It has also featured in the movies "Full Metal Jacket," "Saving Private Ryan," "Hamburger Hill," and "Predator."

Image for FUBAR

When I write FUBAR, I mean this:

FUBAR means irreparably broken.

Summary of Key Points

"F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition" is, by far, the most common meaning for FUBAR when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

FUBAR
Definition:	F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition
Type:	Acronym
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults

An Academic Look at FUBAR

FUBAR is an acronym (i.e., an abbreviation spoken like a word). Acronyms differ from initialism abbreviations, which are pronounced using their individual letters. The term FUBAR is most commonly used as an adjective (i.e., a describing word). It can follow the noun it modifies (in which case it is a predicative adjective), or precede the noun it modifies (in which case it is an attributive adjective). For example:

• The computer is FUBAR.
(Here, FUBAR is a predicative adjective; i.e., it is placed after the noun it modifies, which in this case is computer.)
• This a FUBAR situation.
(Here, FUBAR is an attributive adjective; i.e., it is placed before the noun it modifies, which in this case is situation.)

FUBAR is not a modern cyber term. Even though its popularity grew markedly in the early 90s, FUBAR has been in common use since at least 1940, and may even have been noted as early as AD 1803. [click here for evidence]

Example of FUBAR Used in a Text

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