How can the word combination "to cover six" be translated?
Hello everyone!
I`d be really grateful if someone could help me with the translation of the word combination mentioned above! I heard it in one film but I`m arfaid I didn`t catch the main idea... There was a following dialogue in this film:
"A: I swear I won`t say a word about that case. But, you know, I can`t controll telepathic messages my mind might let fly/
B: Do you believe in 'hokum'?
A: I`m just covering my six, dear.
B: Well, if you tell anyone about our secret, you won`t have a six."
Please, help me to translate the phrases ''to cover six'' and "to have a six" and to understand the meaning of the dialogue!
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 8
1
It means to cover your back or butt. If you imagine standing in the middle of a clock facing 12 o'clock, "your 6" is directly behind you.
1
Allen is exactly right. The phrase originates, I believe, from aircraft terminology, where pilots refer to locations relative to the aircraft as points on a clock, twelve o'clock being in front and six o'clock the rear. In aerial combat, the most vulnerable spot for a fighter aircraft is the rear, where visibility is the worst and there are no weapons pointing in response to a threat. The terminology spread into normal vocabulary. So "watch your six" is an admonishment to keep alert to people sneaking up behind you.
0
I would say "to cover your fifth expensive point" :)))
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