"Two-block that tie, mister!"
In a naval environment, even without looking, or judging the tone of voice, I could immediately visualize the situation, the grade of the miscreant and predicament and desperately for a mirror or other shiny object in which I could check my appearance. For all I knew I might be that miscreant.
While a Columbia NROTC midshipman. and several years after I was commissioned, I was initially addressed as "mister" followed by my surname.
From 1775 to 1973, no junior officers were addressed as "ensign," "lieutenant (Jg) lieutenant," "lieutenant," or "lieutenant commander." Upon reaching the lofty rank title, an officer of well, "commander" since that was what you were doing and you likely had served as a commander of sailors.
Though the other services addressed by their rank titles, the Navy and Coast Guard did not.
Enlisted men were only addressed by their surnames during that period, and chiefs were addressed as chiefs and their surnames. Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs were addressed by their rank title and surname as those grades evolved.
"Two-blocking" means hoisting a signal flag to its full extent. Hoisting a sail using a block and tackle on a sailing ship actually meant to bring two blocks tightly together.
Someone was saying to a (1) nautical junior office (2) the knot in your ties is not raised and centered in your buttoned collar, (3) you are in some space of high formality, (4) the speaker had a degree of authority to correct wrong-doers, AND (5) that nautical junior officer has been warped back in time before 1973.
Isn't that a scary phrase?
Don't old geezers fantasize up the most absurd situations?
