friendly fire
Tragic battlefield misidentification
Friendly fire is accidental fire from one's own forces or allies rather than the enemy.
The term is military in origin but extends to any situation where harm comes from one's own side: Three soldiers were killed by friendly fire.
The phrase carries dark irony—there's nothing friendly about being shot by your own troops.
Accidental allied combat
- fratricideKilling one's own brother
- misidentificationWrongly recognizing something
- communication breakdownFailure to convey meaning
- fog of warUncertainty in combat situations
combat stress · situational awareness · rules of engagement · negligent discharge · radio failure · close quarters
Rivalry within one organization
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- self-sabotageUndermining your own goals
- own goalScoring against your side
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
unintended consequence · internal conflict · miscommunication · counterproductive · workplace conflict · blowback
Gunfire from several angles
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- infantryGround combat troops
- platoonSmall infantry formation
- battalionMid-sized military unit
squadron · coalition forces · joint operation · air support · ground troops · forward observer · close air support · mortar
Person harmed in disaster
- fatalityDeath from accident
- woundedHaving sustained harm
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
inquiry · investigation · cover-up · accountability · compensation · memorial · survivor guilt · PTSD
blue-on-blue
Accidental allied combat
- fratricideKilling one's own brother
- misidentificationWrongly recognizing something
- communication breakdownFailure to convey meaning
fog of war · combat stress · situational awareness · rules of engagement · negligent discharge · radio failure · close quarters
infighting
Rivalry within one organization
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- self-sabotageUndermining your own goals
- own goalScoring against your side
collateral damage · unintended consequence · internal conflict · miscommunication · counterproductive · workplace conflict · blowback
crossfire
Gunfire from several angles
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- infantryGround combat troops
- platoonSmall infantry formation
battalion · squadron · coalition forces · joint operation · air support · ground troops · forward observer · close air support · mortar · airstrike
casualty
Person harmed in disaster
mourning · inquiry · investigation · cover-up · accountability · compensation · memorial · survivor guilt · PTSD · regret
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, take a shot, under the gun
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, regime change, neutralize, ethnic cleansing
- military scandalsAbu Ghraib, Iran-Contra, Pentagon Papers, torture, cover-ups
- game killsfrag, kills, headshot, double kill, triple kill
- game deathsteam kill, bad timing, permadeath, disconnect
- gamingvideo games, buff, games, PlayStation 4, gameplay
fire, friend, friendly, fiery, friendship, unfriendly, friends, friendliness, firearm