in the rear with the gear

prepositional phrase

Far away from any battlefield; not involved in active combat; in a support role.

“They offered me a deployment overseas to see some action, but I declined. I prefer just staying in the rear with the gear.”

Opposite
ass in the grass
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. slanggovernmentFar away from any battlefield; not involved in active combat; in a support role.

    They offered me a deployment overseas to see some action, but I declined. I prefer just staying in the rear with the gear.

    Antonyms: ass in the grass

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositional phraseFar away from any battlefield; not involved in active combat; in a support role.

Opposite
ass in the grass

Origin

In reference to being behind front lines ("the rear") alongside equipment and supplies ("the gear").

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

in the rear with the gear. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20rear%20with%20the%20gear

MLA

“in the rear with the gear.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20rear%20with%20the%20gear. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in the rear with the gear,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20rear%20with%20the%20gear.

Source: in the rear with the gear on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.