- An informal idiom meaning to die, particularly used for deaths resulting from accidents (especially crashes) or military action.
Explanation
Origin
Uncertain origin, likely emerging from US military aviation slang around or after World War II. Common theories include:
- Compensation for Damage: When a plane crashed on farmland, the government might compensate the farmer, effectively 'buying the farm' for them with the insurance payout or settlement. The pilot's death led to this transaction.
- GI Insurance: The life insurance policies provided to servicemen (GIs) might be enough upon their death for their family back home to pay off the mortgage on, or literally 'buy', the family farm.
- Retirement Dream: Pilots might have talked about retiring to 'buy a farm'. Dying in service meant achieving this dream in a tragic, final way.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (Similar Context):
- Get wasted / Get greased / Get taken out (killed, esp. violently)
- Check out / Punch one's ticket (die)
- Crash and burn (literal crash, or figurative failure)
Milder/Euphemistic:
- Pass away / Die
- Be killed in action / Die in the line of duty (formal military)
- Perish in an accident / Die tragically
Formal:
- Perish / Succumb / Be fatally injured
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Best suited for contexts related to military, aviation, high-risk activities, or accidents.
- Can sound dated or like a cliché in some contexts.
- Avoid in formal settings or when speaking about death with high sensitivity, as it can sound somewhat detached or crude depending on tone and context.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Completely idiomatic; the literal meaning makes no sense. Must be learned as a phrase meaning to die, often in specific contexts (accident/combat).
- Tone is important; can sound callous if used inappropriately.
Examples
- He was a fighter pilot for years, saw a lot of friends buy the farm.
- If you keep driving like a maniac, you're going to buy the farm.
- Too many young men bought the farm in that war.
Dialogue
(Warning context)
Veteran 1: We lost Johnson in '68. Plane went down over the jungle.
Veteran 2: Yeah, I remember hearing about that. He bought the farm way too young.
Veteran 1: Too many did.
Parent: Slow down on that motorbike! Do you want to buy the farm?
Teenager: Chill out, I know what I'm doing!
Social Media Examples
- Relatively rare on social media. Might appear in historical discussions, aviation forums, or perhaps very informal warnings.
- History Buff Tweet: Reading about the pioneers of aviation incredible courage, but sadly, many bought the farm testing early planes. #history #aviation
- Comment on Risky Stunt Video: Dude's gonna buy the farm if he keeps that up! #crazy #dangerous
Response Patterns
- Somber agreement or acknowledgement, especially in military or historical contexts.
- Expressions of sadness or sympathy.
- If used as a warning: Agreement (You're right), defensiveness (I'm being careful!).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Discussing the dangers of the situation (e.g., combat, risky behavior).
- Remembering the person or people who died.
- Expressing condolences or reflecting on the tragedy.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to describe a death, particularly one that is accidental or occurs in service.
Intonation
- Often said with a grim, matter-of-fact, or cautionary tone.
- Stress falls on buy and farm. Buy the farm.
Generation Differences
- More commonly associated with older generations (who experienced WWII, Korea, Vietnam eras or heard it from parents) or those with military/aviation backgrounds, but the idiom is generally understood.
Regional Variations
- Primarily American English in origin and strongest association, but understood in other English-speaking regions.