- rearguard action
- ,rearguard `action noun count or uncounta strong attempt to stop something bad from happening, even though it may be too late
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
rearguard action
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rearguard action — ► NOUN ▪ a defensive action carried out by a retreating army … English terms dictionary
rearguard action — noun 1. : a defensive or delaying fight engaged in by a rear guard (as in covering the retreat of an army or the evacuation of a besieged garrison) 2. : an effort put forth by means of preventive or delaying measures or tactics and usually… … Useful english dictionary
rearguard action — UK / US noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms rearguard action : singular rearguard action plural rearguard actions a strong attempt to stop something bad from happening, even though it may be too late … English dictionary
rearguard action — noun a defensive action carried out by a retreating army … English new terms dictionary
fight a rearguard action — to try very hard to prevent something from happening when it is probably too late to prevent it. The unions were fighting a rearguard action against the government s attempt to strip them of their powers. (often + against) … New idioms dictionary
rearguard — [[t]rɪ͟ə(r)gɑː(r)d[/t]] 1) N SING: the N In a battle, the rearguard is a group of soldiers who protect the back part of an army, especially when the army is leaving the battle. 2) PHRASE: V inflects If someone is fighting a rearguard action or… … English dictionary
rearguard — rear|guard [ˈrıəga:d US ˈrırga:rd] n [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: reregarde, from rere behind (from Latin retro ) + garde guard ] 1.) fight a rearguard action a) to make a determined effort to prevent a change that you think is bad,… … Dictionary of contemporary English
rearguard — noun fight a rearguard action a) to make a determined effort to prevent a change that you think is bad, although it seems too late to stop it: A rearguard action is being fought against the sale of the land for business development. b) if an army … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
action — n. activity act 1) to initiate; take action; to go into action 2) to put smt. into action (we put our plan into action) 3) to prod, spur smb. into action 4) concerted, united; decisive; direct; disciplinary; drastic; emergency; hasty, rash;… … Combinatory dictionary
rearguard — n. 1 a body of troops detached to protect the rear, esp. in retreats. 2 a defensive or conservative element in an organization etc. Phrases and idioms: rearguard action 1 Mil. an engagement undertaken by a rearguard. 2 a defensive stand in… … Useful english dictionary
