Skip to main content
to G.I.

to G.I.

9.9
To clean something very carefully before inspection, especially when soldiers prepare for review
  • verb
  • /ˌdʒiːˈaɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : limpiar a fondo
  • The soldiers G.I. their barracks every Friday.

Examples

  • The recruits G.I.ed their gear to meet the sergeant's strict standards.

  • We spent all morning G.I.-ing the mess hall until it sparkled.

  • Before the inspection, the squad had to G.I. the entire barracks from top to bottom.

  • Before inspection, they must G.I. their uniforms.

  • Before the inspection, the squad had to G.I. the entire barracks from top to bottom.

  • We spent all morning G.I.-ing the mess hall until it sparkled.

  • The recruits G.I.ed their gear to meet the sergeant's strict standards.

Synonyms

spit and polish
vsto G.I.
  • Informal
1 7.0

Careful cleaning and neat order, especially in the military

focuses on a single thorough cleaning before inspection rather than ongoing neatness
to GI
vsto G.I.
  • Archaic
9.6

To clean something very well before an inspection

is the punctuated abbreviation with dots between letters

How Clean

to sterilize
  • Specialized
29 4.1
to G.I.
  • Archaic
9.9
to clean
1.0
to wipe
531 1.0
to dust
66 1.0

Surface Forms

G.I. infinitive

Etymology

G.I. began as a mark on army kit meaning 'galvanized iron', a kind of metal, and later people used it for 'Government Issue' or 'General Issue', meaning things made or given by the army. Because G.I. came to mean 'army standard', to G.I. something is to make it meet that standard, usually by cleaning it carefully for inspection.