Hold the fort
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
To keep things steady or safe in someone's absence, standing guard.
Origin
From 19th-century America, tied to Civil War; General Sherman's 1864 order to 'hold the fort' at Allatoona, slang by 1870s for duty. An 1874 hymn spread it.
Usage Examples
- Hold the fort while I grab lunch, okay?
- She held the fort at home during his trip.
- He's holding the fort till the boss returns.