“Kilroy Was Here” | What Does this Idiomatic Term Mean?

If you have ever heard someone using the phrase ‘Kilroy was here’ you may have wondered what they were talking about. We are going to look at what this saying means and where it first originated from. We will also take a look at how the term can be used in a conversation.

Kilroy Was Here

“Kilroy Was Here” Meaning

The term ‘Kilroy was here’ was a popular form of graffiti during the second world war by the American military.

Origin of this idiomatic phrase

As mentioned in the meaning of this idiom, ‘Kilroy was here’ was made famous during the second world war by American soldiers. The graffiti features a long-nosed man peeking over a wall, next to the words ‘Kilroy was here.’

“Kilroy Was Here” Examples

Examples is Statements

This is a statement made by someone who has visited a war memorial.

  • ‘There were many copies of Kilroy was here around the memorial.’

Here is a statement made in a magazine article.

  • ‘The phrase Kilroy was here was extremely popular among military soldiers in the second world war.’

Conversation Examples

If you are curious to see how the term ‘Kilroy was here’ would fit into a conversation, here are some examples of things you might hear.

The first conversation is between a grandfather and his grandchild.

  • Person 1: “So Grandpa, tell us some stories about when you were in the war.”
  • Person 2: “Well one of the things we used to do was to draw symbol called Kilroy was here.

This next conversation happens between a father and son at a war memorial.

  • Person 1: “Dad, what is that picture of a man drawn on that wall?”
  • Person 2: “That is a famous slogan which the soldiers used to draw in the war.”
  • Person 1: “What is it called?”
  • Person 2: “It is called Kilroy was here.”

Other ways to say the phrase

Kilroy was here tends to be a phrase that cannot be altered, however sometimes you might see or hear the phrase as simply ‘Kilroy.’

What Does “Kilroy Was Here” Mean? | Picture

Kilroy Was Here Pin

 

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

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