a soldier who does not meet the minimum standards of marksmanship.
a clumsy or incompetent soldier.
First recorded in 1900–05; from Philippine Spanish; further origin uncertain
First recorded in 1915–20; said to be after Bolo Pascha (died 1918), German agent in France during World War I
First recorded in 1975–80
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The bolo makes Lynch look a bit like “Blue Velvet’s” demented antagonist, Frank Booth, a rockabilly nightmare played by Dennis Hopper.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025
Perhaps the most confounding person on the list is Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Coloradan who, according to the Times, would wear bolo ties and “roar… around town on a highly accessorized Harley-Davidson.”
From Slate • Dec. 9, 2022
"More than anything my TikTok is a work tool," said Novoa, who also sells bolo through his channel.
From Reuters • Nov. 12, 2022
Ms. Peltola appeared to be wearing a beaded bolo tie that belonged to Mr. Young, after his daughter gave it to her during the recent Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage.
From New York Times • Oct. 27, 2022
When Luke looked at Ricky, he realized he was wearing a pair of pressed blue jeans and a button-up cowboy shirt, complete with bolo tie.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
