close ranks
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.20 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To close the spacing between lines (ranks) of troops, as they are deployed across a battlefield, thereby decreasing the depth of the formation as it faces the enemy side.
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.
Example Sentences
- "However, the charges that the police closed ranks to protect Godber find a parallel in Wong's hearings."
- "Gendrot describes a “clannish” system that ensures officers close ranks to protect their own, leading to a sense of impunity."
- "It cannot be suggested in my view that the Metropolitan Police, even for a moment, attempted to close ranks to protect one of their own. Instead, remorselessly, efficiently and impartially the investigating officers followed all the available leads, resulting in an overwhelming case against the accused."
Inflected Forms
closes ranks (present, singular)
closing ranks (participle, present)
closed ranks (participle, past)
closed ranks (past)