unmask one's batteries
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.46 in modern English
27
Scrabble Score
19
Letters
5
Syllables
12
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To begin a decisive action, especially one that reveals one’s true strength or character.
Dated
verb
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see unmask, battery.
Example Sentences
- "“Your father is fond of surprises, as you must have seen,” Cuthbert rejoined. “He won’t unmask his batteries till all is ready for action.”"
- "The bishops, proud of this first victory, believed that a second would be easily won, and they unmasked their batteries."
- "The Evénément^([sic]) remarks:—“The Egyptian Question is not a French or an Anglo-French, but a European question, and the spoliation just perpetrated by England, has enlightened Europe in time. It is not wise to unmask one’s batteries too soon.”"
- "Meanwhile the Germans had shown that they themselves were not yet ready to unmask their batteries."
Etymology
From the revealing of artillery previously concealed from the enemy’s line of sight, immediately before opening fire.