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Calling for Ralph

Posted by ESC on November 01, 2003

In Reply to: Calling for a Huey posted by DGW on November 01, 2003

: : In Viet Nam, soldiers called for a Huey helicopter to evacuate. The phrase "calling for a Huey" became a euphemism for evacuation of the GI tract (vomiting).

: This is onomatopoeia, I believe. I believe it's equivalent to "saying 'Huuuuey'", imitating a retching sound. A more common expression along the same line, I think, is "selling [or buying, etc.] Buicks", i.e., making a "buuuuick" sound.

Like "calling for Ralph."

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