muck and bullets

English

Noun

muck and bullets pl (plural only)

1. (informal) Gruelling, unglamorous and potentially dangerous military assignments.
   • 1999, Mind the gap: Promoting a transatlantic revolution in military affairs:

     Conversely, the United States cannot expect to be excused from "muck and bullets" assignments — such as peacekeeping in the Balkans.

   • 2013, Vinnie Jones, It's Been Emotional, page 215:

     I narrated the first series and it went really well, so they commissioned me to get in among the muck and bullets and actually go on patrol around the world.