cannon fodder

Meaning

1. (uncountable) Military forces considered to be expendable.
2. (broadly, uncountable) Any group of contestants that have no hope of success.
3. (rare, uncountable) Artillery ammunition.
4. (slang, uncountable) An expendable minor character primarily included to make the protagonist(s) stand out.

Synonyms

fodder

fresh fish

Translations

chair à canon

bucha de canhão

Kanonenfutter

carne da cannone

carne de cañón

carne de canhão

carn de canó

kannonnenvlees

kurbanlık

poisson frais

cannon fodder

kanonnenvoer

kanonnenvlees

carne para canhão

Etymology

Mid-19th century, from cannon (“artillery piece”) + fodder (“food”), a calque of German Kanonenfutter, itself possibly a calque of English food for powder. See the German for more.