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You are here: Home / Language / What Does “On the Double” Mean and Where Does the Phrase For Hurry Up Come From?

What Does “On the Double” Mean and Where Does the Phrase For Hurry Up Come From?

March 30, 2020 by Karen Hill

In civilian life “on the double” means to do something in a hurry.

In the military, where the expression originated, it is usually a clear command most commonly barked by a drill sergeant ordering his men to do a task “on the double,” meaning to “stop walking and start running.”

Just as bugles were used to relay drills to soldiers in the field, drums were utilized on ships to summon sailors to their battle stations.

Double was an early reference to increase the drumbeat appropriately to convey urgency to all hands.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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