no joy

Definition

Radio call indicating failure to acquire a target, make contact, or achieve desired result. Aviation terminology that's spread across all military operations as the professional way to say 'I got nothing.'

Example Usage

Overlord, this is Apache Six—scanned the sector twice, no joy on enemy vehicles.

Origin

Fighter pilot terminology from World War II and Korea, indicating failure to spot enemy aircraft

Fun Fact

The opposite 'tally' or 'visual' indicates success, giving military radio communications the emotional range of a depressed binary system.

Source: Aviation and tactical communications terminology

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