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What is R and R?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

R and R is a term first used by the military to stand for "rest and recuperation," although it is often mistranslated as "rest and relaxation" or "rest and recreation." The acronym is in such common usage that it can really be used to refer to any of these phrases. However, a soldier would likely use it in the original, formal sense.

The military translation of R and R does not mean that soldiers may do much rehabilitating on a typical leave. Most soldiers benefit from the mixing with civilians and taking a break from the tense conditions that serving in the armed forces sometimes engenders, however.

Rest and relaxation can be something as simple as a bubble bath.
Rest and relaxation can be something as simple as a bubble bath.

For some in the military, R and R may cause problems. For example, sailors often have a very difficult time adjusting to life onshore because of their cramped and confined living conditions while at sea. The time away can actually provide no rest because service members may go through a few days adjustment to the wide-open freedom allowed by being on land.

For those not in the military, R and R is often used to refer to taking a vacation or participating in something fun. For example, a worker takes a few days of to play golf, and says to his buddies, “I’ve got three days of R and R coming up.”

A non-military meaning of "R and R" is "rest and recreation."
A non-military meaning of "R and R" is "rest and recreation."

R and R doesn’t always provide the needed break from the working environment. A single working mother who uses her time off to clean her house, take care of her kids, and do all the shopping, is not usually relaxing from the time she receives. Her family may benefit, but essentially the mom is still working.

There are many other terms that this acronym can stand for, including Rock and Roll, Read and Review, Remove and Replace, Repair and Return, and Rules and Regulations. In prison terminology, R and R stands for the Receiving and Release of prisoners. In the business world, the acronym is used by human resource departments to refer to Recruitment and Retention.

Organizations that help during natural disasters may use R and R for Response and Recovery. Computer techs may use the acronym to describe Remove and Reinstall. Further, statisticians use it to mean Repeatability and Reliability.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

anon294707

An alternate term for R & R (back in the Vietnam War days) was I & I, which stood for Intercourse and Intoxication. An acronym that was probably much closer to the truth.

StreamFinder

Thank you for putting the true original meaning of R and R up! You wouldn't believe how many sites put that it means rest and relaxation; ignoring the original military context entirely.

It drives me crazy to see all these businesses based off of the rest and relaxation concept of R and R too -- I mean, you've got everything from R and R limo services to R and R RV parks, and not a one of them have to do with rehabilitation.

I'm just glad that you guys took the time to do the research and put up the true original meaning of R and R.

And @closerfan12: I am totally there with you. Word Nerds unite!

closerfan12

I had no idea there were that many possible uses of the acronym R and R! And like most people, I thought it originally stood for rest and relaxation, not rest and rehabilitation.

Isn't it interesting to look at the difference in semantics there -- relaxation implies that you are taking a total break; rehabilitation implies that you are actively working to get back to a state of activity. It's also more medical in nature, which makes sense when you look at where it came from, I guess.

Call me a word nerd, but stuff like that just fascinates me!

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    • Rest and relaxation can be something as simple as a bubble bath.
      By: Ariwasabi
      Rest and relaxation can be something as simple as a bubble bath.
    • A non-military meaning of "R and R" is "rest and recreation."
      By: bertys30
      A non-military meaning of "R and R" is "rest and recreation."
    • R and R, a term originally used by the military, stood for "rest and rehabilitation".
      By: Oleg_Zabielin
      R and R, a term originally used by the military, stood for "rest and rehabilitation".
    • R and R can mean visiting a beach with family.
      By: Karen Roach
      R and R can mean visiting a beach with family.
    • Many people like to catch up on reading during R and R.
      By: Dudarev Mikhail
      Many people like to catch up on reading during R and R.
    • R and R might include catching up on a favorite TV show.
      By: inesbazdar
      R and R might include catching up on a favorite TV show.
    • For some, R and R may be a few days off work to play golf.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      For some, R and R may be a few days off work to play golf.
    • R and R may include a cruise to an exotic location.
      By: Wimbledon
      R and R may include a cruise to an exotic location.