"We got company!"

[LeTyan]

Hi,

I heard this scentence many times all in action movies but found it hard to fathom. It's when a team of soldiers(or gunners) are searching a house, then someone hears something. He shouts, "We got company!" Shortly afterwards, enemies soliders show up.

What I don't understand is that what they call "company" isn't really company. It's actually enemies or intruders. Is the speaker trying to be funny or something?
Is "we got company" a expression specifically used in this combat setting?

Thank you!

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hi,

I heard this scentence many times all in action movies but found it hard to fathom. It's when a team of soldiers(or gunners) are searching a house, then someone hears something. He shouts, "We got company!" Shortly afterwards, enemies soliders show up.

What I don't understand is that what they call "company" isn't really company. It's actually enemies or intruders. Is the speaker trying to be funny or something?
Is "we got company" a expression specifically used in this combat setting?

Thank you!

First of all, it should be "We've got company". After that, it is a tongue-in cheek way of describing intruders.

 

[probus]

With all respect to MikeNewYork, I disagree. "We've got" is grammatically correct and "we got" is not. But "we got" is very commonly heard in many contexts and is in fact the almost universal usage in contexts like the one posed by the OP.

And to the OP, yes it is an ironic joke. It is just a little bit funny because the company is so unwelcome.

 

[MikeNewYork]

With all respect to MikeNewYork, I disagree. "We've got" is grammatically correct and "we got" is not. But "we got" is very commonly heard, and is in fact the almost universal usage in contexts like the one posed by the OP.

I agree that it is said that way, but I more often hear it the correct way.

 

[Tdol]

You hear both forms used in BrE. I think it's common enough to be one where the grammar can be over-ridden.