walking wounded

the walking wounded

1. Casualties, especially soldiers, whose injuries are not life-threatening and do not impair their ability to walk. The transporter was filled with the dead and dying, so the walking wounded had to travel beside it on foot. Help all the walking wounded to get as far from the scene of the accident as possible while we attend to those with more severe injuries.
2. People suffering from physical or psychological injuries or ailments who nevertheless carry out their daily lives as normal. Our country is filled with the walking wounded who survived that horrible war. Our organization's goal is to provide assistance and compassion to the walking wounded who have been dealing with severe psychological trauma in total secrecy.
See also: walking, wound
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

walking wounded

1. n. soldiers who are injured but still able to walk. (Standard English.) Many of the walking wounded helped with the more seriously injured cases.
2. n. a person who is injured—mentally or physically—and still able to go about daily life. The outpatient clinic was filled with the walking wounded.
3. n. stupid people in general. Most of network programming seems to be aimed at the walking wounded of our society.
See also: walking, wound
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

walking wounded

Injured individuals who are of relatively low priority for care, that is, do not need a stretcher or immediate treatment. The term originated in the mid-1900s and alluded to victims of war, earthquake, or some other disaster. In time, it was being used figuratively. For example, Reuters correspondent Nick Zieminski wrote, “Many workers around the world have given up hopes of advancing in their jobs. . . . Such ‘walking wounded’ workers are increasingly exchanging ambition for job stability. . . .” (March 16, 2010). An even looser usage is that of James Lee Burke in The Glass Rainbow (2010), “His face looked poached and twenty years older than his age. ‘Stop staring at me like that,’ he said. . . . ‘You stop acting like I’m the walking wounded.’”
See also: walking, wound
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be like ships in the night
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • aint
  • ain't
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • not for a instant
  • by no means
  • not by any means
References in periodicals archive
Fire crews had to cut one person free from a vehicle, while two others were described as "walking wounded".
One person cut free from two-car crash
Walking wounded. Two years old taken to hospital for observations."
Child, 2 injured in two-car collision; toddler taken to hospital
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Two males were injured as a result, but they were both walking wounded and not seriously hurt.
Motorcyclists injured
Four were left with minor injuries and taken to local hospitals while another two were described as walking wounded.
Seven people hospitalised following serious A322 crash in Lightwater; Nine people were injured in total following a collision on the A322 involving a van and black saloon car
Fourteen people were left "walking wounded" and required treatment at the scene - with one needing oxygen, emergency services said.
Carnage in Dartford as bus 'ploughs into 25 vehicles on shopping street' leaving 14 people injured; Stunned bystanders looked on as the 480 service to Gravesend, Kent, collided with the vehicles shortly before 7pm
People helped walking wounded away as ambulances with sirens wailing inched their way through the traffic-clogged streets of the city centre.
Heavy casualties in car bomb near embassies in Kabul (Updated)
"There is one person who is walking wounded and very lucky not to have been seriously injured."
Crash man is lucky to avoid serious injury
Also, scores of walking wounded were taxied to the nearest hospitals (Acci and General).
Emergency services during pub bombings
He was placed on a spinal board as a precautionary measure and was described by ambulance crews as "walking wounded."
Driver hurt in crash on busy route
Red Cross volunteers played the role of the walking wounded and critically injured.
Carnage just like the rail thing
One person was thought to have been trapped in a vehicle as a result of the accident, while three others were described as "walking wounded".
Learner-car crash leaves four hurt; NEWS IN BRIEF
A total of thirty-six were said to be injured - many of them were walking wounded with cuts, bruises and shock.
Gateshead coach travellers recover after smash on M1 in Derbyshire; The driver still remains in hospital with chest injuries but others were walking wounded after crash in Derbyshire
The bus driver suffered serious leg and chest injuries while five of his 16 passengers were described as "walking wounded" and treated in hospital.
Ambulance theft driver dies in crash
The Temporary Minor Injuries Unit (TMIU) will provide treatment to the walking wounded, patients suffering with minor illness and minor medical conditions and revellers who have had too much to drink.
Medics go out in city centre
South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust described casualties as "walking wounded".
Coach trip to seaside ends in M-way horror