What Does 'Stay Frosty' Mean?

Hi,

What does "stay frosty" mean? I believe it means 'Stay alert and ready for trouble', eg if you are a soldier in a dangerous place. It's not an expression I've heard, except in a few movies.

Best wishes, Clive

Stay frosty has two meanings.

1.	stay frosty
	A valediction which has come to mean "be cool," but which more properly understood is an admonishment to stay alert and on one's toes. See the quote below for the pop culture origin. "Hey! I know we're all in strung out shape but stay frosty and alert. We can't afford to let one of those bastards in here." --Corporal Hicks (Michael Biehn), in Aliens (1986)

2.	stay frosty
	a manner of telling someone goodbye syn. peace out, be cool, etc see ya later tim, stay frosty

Who ever said they think it is becoming a popular term in the military, you are somewhat correct. I am a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. I have been to Iraq three times. Out in the field (A.K.A. a battle field) people do say "Stay Frosty", but we all have our own terms within our own platoon and squad. It is also just like the term "Never pet a burning dog", (Both of which happen to be titles of "Generation Kill" movie series) which basically means, don't try to help something or someone when it's too late. But thats just what I think it means, to other people it means something different, it could mean dont try to fix something when its not broken or it could literally mean don't pet a burning dog.

Stay frosty is used as a term for,"Be cool. Just let the bad things roll off of you." etc. It can be used as a farewell term, like,"Be careful" or "Watch your own back". Other times, while in combat/battle it means,"Stay aware, and awake." I am Marine and we use it all the time in my Company.

Actually the term was used before Aliens by George C. Scott in The New Centurions (1972) when he was having a phone conversation with his ex-partner Stacy Keach. Telling him to stay alert. Then he shot himself.