hentak kaki

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Malay hentak kaki (literally “stomp one’s feet”), referring to a punitive military drill command in the Singapore Armed Forces requiring soldiers to march on the spot. The full drill command is hentak kaki, cepat hentak.

Pronunciation

  • (Singapore) IPA(key): [ˈhənt˭aʔ ˌk˭ak˭i]

Verb

hentak kaki (invariable)

  1. (Singapore, military) To march on the spot (a drill command sometimes used as form of punishment).
  2. (Singapore, Singlish, figuratively) To be stuck in the same role or career with very little prospects of advancement.
    • 2011, James Khoo, directed by James Khoo, Hentak Kaki‎[1] (short film), spoken by SSG (NS) Rajendran (P. Muruganandan / Richard Muru):
      Are you sure they’re gonna give you someting more kilat? I think ah, they put you here to hentak kaki, know!

See also

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