cannon fodder

Definition

Military forces considered to be expendable.

Etymology

Mid-19th century, from cannon (“artillery piece”) + fodder (“food”), a calque of German Kanonenfutter, itself possibly a calque of English food for powder. See the German for more.

Example Sentences

• ""A foolish old half-pay officer," boomed Sir Hilton. "Go back to your club, sir, and play bridge with other superannuated cannon-fodder, sir.""
• "Soviet communism is trying to make these nations into colonies, and to use their people as cannon fodder in new wars of conquest."
• "A Russian governor in Siberia has been confronted by angry citizens who blamed him for deploying a local riot police unit to Ukraine to become “cannon fodder”, a video clip circulating online showed."