rearguard action
Смотреть что такое "rearguard action" в других словарях:
rearguard action — ► NOUN ▪ a defensive action carried out by a retreating army … English terms dictionary
rearguard action — noun count or uncount a strong attempt to stop something bad from happening, even though it may be too late … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
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
