close ranks

close ranks
close ranks
to move closer together in a military formation. •

The soldiers closed ranks and marched on the enemy in tight formation.

* * *
{v. phr.} 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. * /The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge./ 2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. * /The Democrats and Republicans closed ranks to win the war./ * /The leader asked the people to close ranks and plan a new school./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • close ranks — {v. phr.} 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. * /The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge./ 2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. * /The Democrats and Republicans… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • close ranks — If members of an organisation close ranks, they show support for each other publicly, especially when being criticised.  It is a military term when soldiers close ranks, they stand closer together so that it is difficult to pass through them …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • close ranks — ► close ranks 1) (of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line. 2) unite in order to defend common interests. Main Entry: ↑rank …   English terms dictionary

  • close\ ranks — v. phr. 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge. 2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. The Democrats and Republicans closed ranks… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • close ranks — if members of a group close ranks, they publicly show that they support each other, especially when people outside of the group are criticizing them. In the past, the party would have closed ranks around its leader and defended him loyally… …   New idioms dictionary

  • close ranks — 1) to join with a group to support and protect yourselves against someone outside your group who is criticizing or attacking you Her male colleagues closed ranks against her. 2) if soldiers close ranks, they stand nearer together in order to… …   English dictionary

  • close ranks — come together for fighting, unite and work together They decided to close ranks and stop arguing among themselves …   Idioms and examples

  • close ranks — phrasal to unite in a concerted stand especially to meet a challenge …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • close ranks — verb to regroup forces, especially when this involves overlooking differences in order to face a challenge or adverse situation. Often implies making a show of unity, especially to the public …   Wiktionary

  • close ranks — come together into a tight formation (Military) …   English contemporary dictionary

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