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to watch someone's back or give them support
What does "to have got one's six" mean in military slang?
The structure uses "six" (referring to the six o'clock position, meaning directly behind a person) as a directional shorthand, forming a phrase about rear defense. It is used to describe watching someone's back or giving them support, especially in dangerous situations where threats could come from behind. People typically say "I've got your six" when assuring someone they are protected from unseen danger. The term originated in military aviation during World War II, where pilots used clock positions to communicate enemy locations (twelve o'clock was ahead, six o'clock was behind), and later spread into police work, action films, and everyday friendship language.
