Awkward Squad
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Military recruits not yet fitted to take their place in the ranks.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Awkward Squad” mean?
Military recruits not yet fitted to take their place in the ranks.
Is “Awkward Squad” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.