million-dollar wound

Meaning: It is a military phrase: A million dollar wound is one that doesn’t tear you apart but it takes you out of action for a few months and as a result may save your life. Bottom line. It gives you a brief and welcome respite from the horrors of war. For example, Forrest Gump said "I got shot in the buttox and they told me it was a million-dollar wound, but I haven’t seen any of that money yet."