Definition of tap for

The phrase "tap for" has its origin in military tradition, specifically in relation to paying homage to fallen soldiers. It dates back to the mid-19th century when soldiers would drink from a communal drinking vessel called a "tot" or "flagon." During this ritual, when a soldier died, the tot would be covered with a cloth, and the remaining soldiers would tap on the decorated cloth with their fingers, symbolic of a tap on a barrel, before drinking as a sign of mourning and respect. This tradition served as a precursor to the modern-day custom of having two silent minutes in memory of deceased soldiers, in which people are encouraged to tap their phones or other objects as a way of remembering and honoring the fallen. Today, the phrase "tap for" is commonly used to introduce a moment of silence at military ceremonies and events, as well as during the playing of the Last Post, a traditional bugle call played to salute the dead in the military.