Military Crossword Clue??

[teeteringhead]

I was a little surprised to notice 2 down in today's Torygraph crossword:Cross with broker's compensation for hardship (1-6) I won't insult Ppruners' intelligence by revealing the answer, but the solution clearly derives from what I thought was a purely military meaning of that phrase.

One is vaguely aware of a noisy televison programme of that name, but I can't recall the use of that meaning outside of a military context.

Bit unfair then on non-military cruciverbalists innit?

[Lee Jung]

Better still,

Cheaper for GB than IR rebates (1,6)

[treadigraph]

Just looked it up in the dictionary and had no idea that it means what it does... Always thought it was mathmatical... One lives and learns...

So, how - or why - on earth did the TV programme get its name?

[teeteringhead]

Good point treadi , and I suppose I should have looked in a dictionary myself. OED gives the following: j. X factor (Mil. colloq.), the aspects of a serviceman's life that have no civilian equivalent; pay made in recognition of these. .. with no other (non-military) meaning and no citation before the 1969 AFPRB report which introduced it.

But I'm still at a loss as to the TV use of it:confused:

[moggiee]

For TV useage: X = unknown Factor = element/feature.

They are supposedly looking for that little "je ne sais quoi" - the unknown special talent.