Is it proper to ask to belay a request to a superior? [closed]

Belay is commonly used in nautical settings (not military) to mean "stop." Any sailor might use it in this context; it is not limited to belaying orders.

Using it in a different setting might come across as endearing, pert, obnoxious, or charming, depending on your relationship with the superior with whom you are speaking, and the manner in which you use it.

However, the word belay in and of itself is not rude or offensive.

In the sea services (Navy, Marines, Coast Guard), "belay" means to ignore a foregoing statement or order that a person has given. If it's an order, only the person giving the order or someone above him or her can belay an order. One would never use the term "belay" when attempting to persuade a superior to cancel their statement or order.

There is no situation in the US Military where "belay that order" is appropriate. In a situation where one would like a sailor to disregard an order the correct statement is "as you were." While colloquially "belay that order" makes grammatical/logical sense, it is simply not correct.

However, in civilian life, it is not technically inappropriate. It may sound pedantic, like saying indubitably instead of yes, but it is not improper.

With that being said, who knows what your boss may find offensive, so I would stay away from the phrase.

In the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, and all other branches of naval service, the word "Belay" is used as a manner to disregard and to rescind, e.g.:

• "Corporal, I need you and five Marines to drop what you are doing, and get over to the barracks and police call the beer-garden. I want all of those cigarette butts gone and stray beer cans gone. If it doesn't grow, it goes."
  "-- Uh, actually, belay that. Staff Sergeant has second squad on it already. You guys sweep the cat-walks."

• "Hernandez, you see that flashing over that dune? Looks like muzzle flashes, let me glass it and see what it is, I can't tell what it is. Light it up with the 240."
  "Belay that! Cease fire, cease fire!"

Mskfisher used the term correctly. Usage and branch of service the term is most utilized by i.e.

Lieutenant, 'Light 'em up!!'
Sgt Mgr, 'Belay that, they're friendlies'