Definition of (one's) turn in the barrel

(one's) turn in the barrel

• Signifies a dirty or unpleasant task that one must do since it is part of their share of the work and that others have taken their turn doing before them. I heard this used alot in the military 20 years ago. It sometimes referred to doing KP, but in times of combat might have been used to mean taking on a very dangerous chore (like walking point on recon). There is a vulgar joke associated with the phrase about soldiers putting their penises through a hole in a barrel to receive oral sex. When a new recruit asked who was in the barrel he was ordered to shut up. Several days later he was told it was his "turn in the barrel." I'm not sure if the vulgar joke is the source of the phrase. In spite of its crude references I have heard Generals and Admirals on CNN use the term to describe taking their turn at an unpleaseant task.

  I did that hard work last week, now it is your turn in the barrel.

  by Dan H., Birmingham, AL, USA, Dec 17 2001.

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