battle of the bulge

battle of the bulge

slang The struggle to lose weight or stay slim. The phrase is a humorous reference to the World War II battle of the same name. The battle of the bulge keeps me going to the gym.
See also: battle, bulge, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

battle of the bulge

the attempt to keep one's waistline slim. (Jocular. Alludes to a World War II battle.) She appears to have lost the battle of the bulge. I've been fighting the battle of the bulge ever since I turned 35.
See also: battle, bulge, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

battle of the bulge

n. the attempt to keep one’s waistline normal. (Named for a World War II battle.) She appears to have lost the battle of the bulge.
See also: battle, bulge, of
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

battle of the bulge

A jocular description of fighting middle-aged spread, named for an actual battle between the Allies and German forces during World War II. The last great German drive of the war, it began in December 1944, when Nazi troops “bulged” through the Allied lines deep into Belgium. It took a month for the Allies to drive back the German forces. The current cliché was born in the second half of the 1900s, when diet-conscious Americans deplored the seemingly inevitable advance of pounds that comes in advancing years. A New York Times review of the one-woman play by Eve Ensler, The Good Body, had it: “. . . Ms. Ensler . . . [was] soliciting the experiences of women caught up in similar battles of the bulge” (Nov. 16, 2004).
See also: battle, bulge, of
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • bulge
  • a pitched battle
  • pitched battle
  • pitched battle, a
  • do battle
  • do/join battle
  • running battle
  • a running battle
  • half the battle
  • battle cry
References in periodicals archive
The approximately 3000 civilians killed might have suffered less than the tens of thousands who endured and survived the six weeks of the Battle of the Bulge. Diseases such as typhus, dysentery, meningitis, paratyphoid, pneumonia, diphtheria, croup, scabies, and cholera were common among the survivors, especially the young and old, who huddled in damp, dark cellars and caves.
The Unknown Dead: Civilians in the Battle of the Bulge
As a history teacher, I recently asked my college-level students to write a brief paper on the Battle of the Bulge. I was shocked to hear that not one of my students--all at the college level--had ever heard of the event.
Revisiting History: The Battle of the Bulge
There's encouraging news for people who've been losing the battle of the bulge. Weight loss may be at hand--if that hand begins reaching for a glass of milk, slice of cheese, or dish of yogurt, all low-fat, of course.
Calcium may become a dieter's best friend
BATTLE OF THE BULGE SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT 90 MINUTES, $24.95 (DVD)
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
The Battle of the Bulge, The German View: Perspectives from Hitler's High Command.
The Battle of the Bulge, The German View: Perspectives from Hitler's High Command
The miniseries will follow the unit's arduous path through World War II, from their rigorous training in Georgia to their landing in France on D-Day through the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp and the capture of Adolf Hitler's Eagle's Nest compound at Berchtesgaden.
Spielberg, Hanks `Band' with HBO
For most people, the battle of the bulge lasts a lifetime.
Carbo-phobia: zoning out on the new diet books
Born in New York City (1896); graduated from West Point (1917); served in various capacities and was promoted through the ranks, rising to colonel by the outbreak of World War II; brigadier general (1942), he commanded a combat unit in the 8th Armored Division (1942-1943); deputy chief of staff, Twelfth Army Group in England (1943-1944); promoted major general and appointed commander of 7th Armored Division (November 1944); he led the division in crucial action around Saint Vith in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944-January 17, 1945); his division took part in the breakout from the Remagen bridgehead and operations on the southern side of the Ruhr pocket (March-April 1945); returned to the U.S.
Hasbrouck, Robert Wilson (1896-1985)
Millions seek a painless way to win the battle of the bulge. Since proper diet and exercise take constant discipline and work, quack claims are especially appealing and, to some, worth a try.
Quackery ... the billion dollar miracle business
Just 2 1/2 miles east of the city, at Hamm, is a somberly impressive collective memorial: the Luxembourg American Cemetery, with the graves of 5,076 American soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge. Their commander, General George S.
Stopping over in Luxembourg ... tranquil now, turbulent once
The honours were awarded to Brigadier General Charles O Thrasher who played a key role managing crucial supply lines during the Normandy D-Day invasion of France and the pivotal Battle of the Bulge operation.
D-Day general's medals to go under the hammer
Here's what I have (in chronological order): The Best Years of Our Lives, From Here to Eternity, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Enemy Below, The Guns of Navarone, The Longest Day, The Great Escape, Von Ryan's Express, Battle of the Bulge, The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, The Battle of Britain, Patton, Kelly's Heroes, Tora!
Calling all war movie buffs
Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the General's Tanks Turned the Tide at Bastogne
Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the General's Tanks Turned the Tide at Bastogne
The report into the health of our elder generation shows many people are losing the battle of the bulge.
Let's not weight to tackle issue